Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Christleton Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play. 

For our pupils we aim to develop the 'whole child'. This means working to develop them educationally, emotionally, spiritually, morally and physically. As well as caring for their education we also care for their mental health and wellbeing and feel that it is essential to provide children with information to enable them to make life long, well informed decisions about their diet and health. 

A key aspect of our role in school is to ensure that children are able to manage times of change and stress, and that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. We also have a role to ensure that children learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what can affect their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where they can go if they need help and support.

Positive wellbeing is promoted through the curriculum and all school activities. Through a carefully planned approach our pupils are helped to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives, and to become resilient, informed and responsible citizens.

 At our school, we promote a mentally healthy environment through:

• A commitment to the creation of a happy, caring and supportive environment.
• Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
• Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making
• Celebrating academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem
• Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
• Providing opportunities to reflect
• Access to appropriate support that meets their needs
• Helping children to understand their emotions and feelings better and to feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• Helping children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks 
• Positioning RSHE centrally in our curriculum. This assists our children to cope with changes such as transition and puberty and enables them to make an active contribution to their communities. 
• Ensuring high quality physical education is delivered including additional opportunities such as after school clubs, the daily mile and our forest school.

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support 
To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance, developing resilience for all.

Additional support
For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.  

Targeted support 
For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups or personal mentors.

Leading Staff

Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health:

Mrs Roz Bingham (SENDCO),

Mr Mitchell (Headteacher)

Mrs Hughes (Deputy Headteacher).

Mrs Bradshaw (ELSA – Emotional Literacy Support Assistant and KS2 Lead).

Miss Thompson (KS1 Emotional Support Lead)

What do we currently do for mental health and wellbeing for our pupils and staff?

• We have a designated Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Bingham).
• We have a designated trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) , Mrs Bradshaw, who delivers nurture groups for pupils and individuals,  including 1:1 check ins in liaison with our SENDCos (Special Needs & Disabilities Co-Ordinator)
• In each class we have worry boxes for pupils to share their worries with a safe adult.
• We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.
• We hold regular meetings for pupils who need more regular meetings to support their needs.
• We have Seesaw so parents can inform their child’s teacher of any concerns.
• We have home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.
• We have move up days and meet the teacher sessions to support transition.
• We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
• Play mentors.
• We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders to support younger children in positive play.
• We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.
• The topic of mental health and wellbeing is covered within assemblies to promote resilience and self-management.
• We have a PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, habits of mind and the growth mindset.
• Our ethos is to promote supporting the development of skills and character traits such as perseverance, compassion and teamwork.
• We celebrate events during the year which may promote mental health e.g. Mental Health Awareness Week

Positive Experiences

Christleton Primary School offers pupils many opportunities to do physical activities as well as opportunities to relax which both are ways to promote wellbeing and positive mental health.

• Daily Mile
• Forest School
• Outside library open each lunch to borrow books to read
• Active Learning
• Home Learning Projects
• Themed Days
• Residential visits
• Educational day visits
• Before and after school clubs
• Extra-curricular clubs
• Orienteering 

Celebrating Success

We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

• Posting achievements on Seesaw to celebrate what is taking place
• Recognition boards
• Displaying pupil’s work
• Achievement Assembly each week
• Photos of achievements on our social media
• School newsletters 

Our Curriculum

The school follows the DfE guidelines for the teaching of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the following ways:

• Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) scheme of work
• Active Learning
• MyHappyMind
• Assemblies and theme days
   

Interventions to support Mental Health and Wellbeing

Staff coordinate interventions for pupils mental health and wellbeing such as:

• Talking Therapy
• Counselling
• Mentoring
• Self-esteem individual and group activities
• There's a Volcano in my Tummy anger therapy
• Lego therapy 

Mental Health Support Teams

What do I do if I am worried about my child's mental health or wellbeing?

You can:

• Go to your GP as a first port of call as they are a useful place to gain medical support and signposting of local services, or speak to a School Nurse. 
• Talk to your child’s class teacher or teaching assistant about your child's needs or your concerns.
• Talk to the school’s SENDCO (Mrs Bingham)
• Call Young Minds - The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional well-being, or mental health condition. You may have a child who's already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them. Call 0808 802 5544 or visit the website.

Useful links

Dealing with anxiety

• https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

Young minds parents’ survival guide

• https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

• https://www.annafreud.org/parents/

Useful Booklets/Publications

Please see the resources attached to this page for a huge selection of booklets and resources to support. 

Please click the icon opposite for Pupil Voice related to mental health and Wellbeing