Hello, my name is Vicki Allon, and I am the Pastoral Lead at Foston, Terrington, and Stillington Primary Schools. I am also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (dDSL), as well as a Senior Mental Health Lead, bringing over 20 years of teaching experience—from Nursery through to Year 6.

At the heart of all our schools is a deep commitment to family and community. We believe that relationships matter, every individual should feel valued, and our shared values of love, joy, patience, and self-control should guide us each day. These values are central to my role and shape every interaction I have with our children and families.

As Pastoral Lead, I offer support, advice, and guidance to families across our school communities. I work closely with children, parents, carers, staff, and external agencies on a range of issues—always with the goal of promoting wellbeing, understanding, and positive outcomes. Whether you are facing challenges around emotional or mental health, behaviour, or educational needs, I am here to help—and to listen.

I understand that family life can be tough at times. Sometimes, we all just need someone to talk to. My door is always open—whether you are seeking practical advice or simply a compassionate ear. While I offer confidential support, please be aware that any safeguarding concerns will be handled in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

At FST, we believe in journeying together—supporting one another with love, celebrating small victories with joy, showing patience during challenges, and encouraging self-control as we grow. My role is to walk alongside you and your family—to help navigate difficulties and celebrate progress together.

Support for families may include:

• One-to-one advice and emotional support
• Signposting to local services and organisations
• Liaising with external services such as health, and social care

If you would like to have a chat about how I can support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can reach me through your school office.

Anxiety

Here are some useful tips to support your child if they are experiencing anxiety.

Young Mind’s Guide to Supporting Your Child with Anxiety
BBC Seven Techniques for Keeping Your Child Calm

Below are also some tips on what phrases are most comforting to a child experiencing anxiety by the brilliant Pooky Knightsmith. Her channel is worth a browse, with lots of videos on supporting children and young people with their mental health for parents and carers:

Top phrases for calming anxious children

Bereavement

Excellent guidance for supporting bereaved and grieving children can be found on the following websites:

Child Bereavement UK

https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/grief-experiences/children-young-people/

https://winstonswish.org/

https://justb.org.uk/

Other useful links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs9Qut0iRww

The Solihull Approach is about emotional health and wellbeing for all children, their parents, carers and grandparents. They are passionate about sensitive relationships, early years support and understanding brain development to help nurture kind, emotionally aware children as they grow.

Solihull Approach brings together a core team of NHS clinical psychologists, child psychotherapists, health professionals, and child and family practitioners, together with schools and parents to develop training to support people who work with children in ANY setting as well as for ALL parents who want to support and nurture emotional health.

They focus on relationships because they shape who we are and are key to our development as human beings. Their training encourages reflective thinking with frameworks, tools and ideas that is proven to be transformative.

https://solihullapproachparenting.com/about-the-solihull-approach/