Educational professionals in Wales are being urged to sign up for a conference which will focus on the emotional and social wellbeing of pupils and teachers. It will look in detail at some of the steps that can be taken after a major incident affecting a school.
 
The call for teachers and other practitioners to attend came from the Welsh Assembly’s Deputy Minister for Children, Huw Lewis. The event will hosted by Esther Rantzen, who will talk about her experiences in founding Childline, and key speakers will include Claude Knights, the Director of the Children’s Charity Kidscape and Aled Haydn Jones,  who  helped to launch Meic, the National Advocacy and Advice helpline for children and young people in Wales.
 
The conference, due to take place on September 17th, will highlight ways in which teachers can deal with major traumatic incidents in their schools as well as covering themes such as pupil participation, schools-based counselling and advocacy services.  

Mr Lewis said the conference would give those present a chance to share their own knowledge and experiences. “The high profile speakers will bring invaluable experience of working with young people who have suffered emotional
difficulties,” he said and added: “Ensuring that teachers and practitioners are able to manage and provide support with difficult emotional situations which may arise in the school environment is really important both for pupils and those
who teach them.”