Play Therapists Secured For Greystones Primary Schools

It’s all about protecting the flock…

atest press release from It Takes A Village, issued on Thursday, September 5th 2024…

The It Takes A Village (ITAV) community-led wellbeing initiative has successfully secured two play therapists for primary schools in Greystones and Delgany, marking a significant milestone in its campaign to address rising levels of anxiety among primary school children in the area.

The Government has allocated €230,000 to fund a two-year pilot programme aimed at providing enhanced mental health services in schools. The ITAV team is collaborating with the HSE to co-design the project’s implementation across eight primary schools in Greystones and Delgany.

The securing of the community play therapists will offer creative therapeutic supports to primary school-aged children, their parents, guardians, and teachers. Additionally, it will provide information on wider supports available in the community. Recruitment for the two play therapist positions is currently underway, with expectations to fill both roles in the coming months.

Rachel Harper, Principal of St. Patrick’s National School and the driving force behind the initiative, expressed her enthusiasm: “This is a momentous achievement for our community. The securing of two community play therapists was the number one objective of the It Takes A Village campaign and will provide crucial support for our children, their families, and teachers. It’s a testament to what can be accomplished when a community comes together for the wellbeing of its youngest members.”

The year-long It Takes A Village community wellbeing campaign involved all eight primary schools across Greystones and Delgany working with a team of community volunteers. The initiative strives to foster a strong sense of community, ensuring the well-being and healthy development of children within the catchment area. As part of the initiative was the introduction of a voluntary No Smart Phone code in all eight primary schools.

ITAV’s Anna Mazzarotto & Dr Mags Crean

Dr. Mags Crean, Assistant Professor in Social Policy at Maynooth University, led an evaluation of the initiative.

The research incorporated qualitative data from interviews with principals, teachers, ITAV team members, and focus groups with parents and children, alongside quantitative and demographic data on activities throughout the school year.

The research by Dr. Mags Crean highlighted the effectiveness of the community-led approach and signals how the It Takes A Village initiative has already made significant strides in addressing children’s wellbeing. The voluntary no-smartphone code was widely accepted, especially among younger children reducing peer pressure and supporting parents in delaying smartphone purchases for children.

It Takes A Village organised workshops focusing on digital awareness and wellbeing, which were well-received and highlighted the need for ongoing education for both parents and children.

Digital awareness education activities were viewed positively by parents and children. The evaluation found that the community-led, school-based approach of ITAV was effective in supporting children’s wellbeing and regulating smartphone use, with potential for wider implementation given appropriate resources and support.

“Our findings demonstrate the significant impact of the ITAV initiative for children’s wellbeing and smartphone use regulation. The collaborative effort between schools, parents, and community members has created a supportive environment for children, setting a model that could be replicated in other communities with appropriate support and resources,” according to Dr. Mags Crean.

The It Takes A Village team is busy working on plans for year two that include the roll-out of The Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme – a fully accredited, evidence-based cognitive-behavioural programme used in more than 30 countries worldwide. The Triple P organisation will host two seminars and online content delivered by experts offered to the Greystones and Delgany communities for six months, free of charge.

It Takes A Village will also continue to run parent talks on issues of mental wellbeing for children and are working to develop a digital passport pilot project to educate children on internet safety in 6th class in primary school.

To mark the beginning of the school year, the team is hosting the largest ever family event on September 29th as a celebration of the remarkable achievements and positive impact children make in our community every day. Exciting details to be announced in the coming days.

So, you know, watch this space, right here. Especially on Sunday. Around 4pm.