The Parent & Carer Guidance Toolkit brings together a range of practical guides designed to support families in understanding some of the challenges young people may face during adolescence and school life. Topics include wellbeing, behaviour, friendships, online safety, sleep, study habits and additional learning needs.

Each guide aims to provide straightforward explanations, practical strategies that can be used at home, and information about how the Academy may be able to support. Where appropriate, the resources also signpost families to external services that can provide further advice or specialist support.

These resources are intended to complement the pastoral care provided through the Academy’s college system, Heads of Year and wider student support teams. By sharing information and working together, we can help ensure that students feel supported both at home and in school.

If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing or would like further guidance, we encourage you to contact your child’s College Pastoral Team, who will be able to offer advice and help coordinate appropriate support.

Adolescence can bring a wide range of emotional, social and developmental changes. While many challenges are a normal part of growing up, there may be times when young people need additional support to manage stress, emotions or difficult life events. The resources in this section are designed to help parents and carers recognise common wellbeing concerns and respond in calm, supportive and practical ways.

The guides provide clear explanations of how different issues may present at home or in school, alongside strategies that families can use to support their child’s wellbeing. They also highlight how the Academy may be able to help and where additional support from external services may be appropriate.

The topics included in this section address a range of areas that families may encounter during their child’s time at school, including emotional wellbeing, relationships, attendance, significant life events and access to support services.

Exam Stress

Practical guidance to help parents recognise signs of exam-related pressure and support their child to manage stress in a healthy and balanced way.

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Suicidal Ideation

Information to help families understand warning signs, respond calmly to concerns, and access appropriate support if a young person expresses thoughts of suicide

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Self Harm

Advice for recognising possible indicators of self-harm, responding with care and reassurance, and working with school and external services to keep young people safe.

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Homelessness

Guidance and practical information about eviction, where to seek help, and what steps to take if you are at risk of becoming homeless or have already lost accommodation

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EBNA

Guidance on understanding emotionally based school avoidance and how parents and school can work together to rebuild confidence and regular attendance.

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External Support Services

A clear overview of local and national services available to support young people’s wellbeing and when families may wish to seek additional help.

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Bereavement support

Guidance to help families understand how grief may affect young people, recognise changes in behaviour or wellbeing, and work with the Academy to provide consistent support.

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Anxiety in young people

Support for parents to recognise anxiety, understand how it may present at home or school, and use practical strategies to reduce overwhelm.

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Sleep hygiene/Screen time

Advice on building healthy routines around sleep and technology use to support wellbeing, focus and emotional balance.

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Emotional Regulation & Meltdowns vs Behaviour

An explanation of how emotional overwhelm can affect behaviour and how parents can respond in ways that support regulation rather than escalation.

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Supporting Young People Through Friendship Issues & Conflict

Guidance on helping children navigate peer relationships, manage conflict safely, and develop positive communication skills.

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As young people grow, they develop increasing independence, make more of their own decisions and spend more time navigating social influences both online and offline. Clear expectations, supportive guidance and consistent routines at home can play an important role in helping students develop responsibility, confidence and safe decision-making.

The resources in this section are designed to support parents and carers with some of the behavioural and social challenges that can arise during adolescence. The guidance focuses on practical strategies that help families maintain positive relationships while setting appropriate boundaries and expectations.

These guides explore areas such as behaviour at home, managing risk-taking influences, navigating online spaces safely and supporting effective study habits. Each resource offers practical approaches that families can use alongside the support provided by the Academy.

Positive Boundaries and Consequences at Home

Support for parents to establish clear expectations and consistent routines that promote responsibility while maintaining positive relationships.

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Managing Risk-Taking Behaviour

Information to help families recognise early signs of risky behaviour and have calm, informed conversations that promote safer choices.

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Online Trends & Digital Safety

Guidance on supporting young people to navigate social media responsibly, understand online risks, and make safe decisions in digital spaces.

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Non-Violent Resistance

NVR encourages parents to remain calm, consistent and persistent when addressing difficult behaviour. The goal is not to control a young person through force or arguments, but to show clear boundaries while maintaining care, support and connection.

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Vaping and substance misuse

This guide provides information to help parents understand the potential harms of vaping and substance misuse, recognise early warning signs, and start supportive conversations that encourage safer choices.

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Supporting young people to develop effective study habits and revision routines can make a significant difference to both confidence and academic progress. Many students benefit from guidance in learning how to organise their work, manage time and approach revision in ways that feel structured and achievable.

The resources in this section provide practical advice for families on supporting learning at home, helping students develop independence and creating routines that reduce stress around homework and revision. The aim is to help young people build sustainable study habits while maintaining balance and wellbeing.

Study Habits

Simple and effective strategies to support students with revision and homework to make it feel more manageable and maximise impact on learning.

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Supporting Revision at Home

This guide provides practical strategies to help parents support effective revision at home while maintaining a calm and balanced environment.

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Every young person learns and experiences the world differently. At Leigh Stationers’ Academy, we aim to ensure that students with additional needs are identified early and supported effectively so that they can access learning, build confidence and feel included in school life.

The resources in this section provide guidance for parents and carers on understanding additional needs, how the Academy identifies and supports students, and practical strategies that can be used at home. The guides also explain how educational support within school may work alongside healthcare services where further assessment or diagnosis is being explored.

These materials are designed to help families understand common neurodevelopmental differences, recognise how needs may present in everyday situations and work collaboratively with the Academy to ensure consistent support for their child.

Understanding ASD

A parent-friendly introduction to autism, focusing on strengths, common challenges, and ways families can support learning and wellbeing.

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Understanding ADHD

Information explaining how ADHD can affect attention, organisation and emotional regulation, alongside strategies to support young people at home.

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Supporting Anxiety in Neurodivergent Young People

Advice on recognising anxiety in neurodivergent students and using predictable routines and supportive communication to reduce distress.

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SEND referrals process

An overview of how the school identifies and supports additional needs, including the role of school-based assessment and routes to further support through healthcare services.

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Supporting Sensory Needs

Practical ideas to help parents recognise sensory sensitivities and create supportive routines and environments that reduce overwhelm.

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Masking & Burnout in Neurodivergent Students

Guidance on understanding how some young people may hide their needs and the signs that emotional exhaustion or burnout may be developing.

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