Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Newall Green Primary School, we believe that positive mental health and emotional wellbeing are essential to children's learning, relationships and ability to thrive.
We want every child to feel safe, valued, listened to, included and supported. We recognise that children can experience worries, difficult emotions and challenges at different points in their lives, and that asking for help is an important part of growing and learning.
We are committed to reducing the stigma around mental health and creating a school community where children feel comfortable talking about their feelings and know where they can go for help.
Our whole-school approach
Mental health and emotional wellbeing are an important part of everyday school life. We promote positive mental health through our relationships, our curriculum, our pastoral support and the wider school environment.
We help children to:
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recognise and name their emotions;
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understand that everyone experiences worries and difficult feelings;
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develop strategies to manage their emotions;
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build resilience and positive coping strategies;
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develop positive and supportive relationships;
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recognise when they may need help;
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understand the importance of looking after their mental health; and
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know who they can talk to when they are worried or upset.
Our approach is nurturing, inclusive and focused on early identification and support. We recognise that behaviour can sometimes be a form of communication and that children may need help to feel safe and regulate their emotions before they are ready to learn or solve problems.
Mental Health and Wellbeing in School
Children have opportunities throughout the school year to develop their understanding of mental health and wellbeing through our PSHE curriculum, assemblies, themed activities and whole-school initiatives.
We also provide a range of opportunities and interventions to support children's emotional wellbeing, including:
PATHS
We deliver the PATHS programme across school to help children develop their understanding of emotions, build positive relationships and learn strategies for managing difficult feelings and situations.
Each class from Reception to Year 6 also chooses a PATHS Pupil of the Day. Every child has the opportunity to take part, giving children the chance to give and receive positive compliments and recognise the strengths of others.
Peace Pals
Our Peace Pals support children during lunchtime on the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds. They encourage children to play together positively and provide friendly support to children who may be feeling sad, lonely or unsure about joining in.
Feelings and Worry Boards
Children have access to feelings and worry boards in their classrooms. These provide an additional way for children to communicate with adults when they are worried, upset or finding things difficult.
Staff are encouraged to listen to children's concerns and provide appropriate support.
Friendship Stops
Our playgrounds have Friendship Stops where children can go if they are feeling lonely or would like some help making friends or joining in with play.
These provide another way for children to let others know that they may need some support.
Drawing and Talking
Staff in school are trained to deliver Drawing and Talking, a child-centred intervention which gives children an opportunity to explore their feelings and experiences through drawing and conversation.
It may be used as part of our targeted support for children who would benefit from additional help with their emotional wellbeing.
Counselling and Therapeutic Support
Where appropriate, children may be offered 1:1 counselling or other therapeutic support.
Support is based on the individual needs of the child and may be provided through our school counsellor, Place2Be or other appropriate professionals and services.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Themes
Throughout the year, we take part in activities and themed events which help children develop their understanding of mental health and emotional wellbeing.
These may include Children's Mental Health Week, Anti-Bullying activities, Time to Talk activities and other whole-school initiatives.
Assemblies and classroom activities are also regularly used to promote positive mental health, emotional wellbeing, positive relationships and resilience.
SMILERS
Children are encouraged to use SMILERS, a simple way of remembering seven steps that can support positive wellbeing.
SMILERS is promoted in classrooms to help children think about the different things they can do to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
Support when a child needs additional help
We use a graduated approach to supporting children's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
All children benefit from our universal approach, including supportive relationships with trusted adults, opportunities to talk about feelings, PSHE and wellbeing education, clear routines and opportunities to develop emotional literacy and resilience.
Where a child needs additional support, we may provide:
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regular check-ins with a trusted adult;
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opportunities to talk about worries and feelings;
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listening and pastoral support;
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worry boards and other communication tools;
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peer or buddy support;
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small-group wellbeing or SEMH interventions;
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Drawing and Talking;
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counselling or therapeutic support; and
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support coordinated through our pastoral or SEND teams.
Support is based on the individual needs of each child and is reviewed regularly.
Where a child has more complex or persistent needs, we may work with parents/carers and appropriate external services. This may include services such as Educational Psychology, CAMHS, GPs and other health professionals, Children's Services, Early Help and M-Thrive.
School-based support complements specialist services and does not replace professional diagnosis or treatment.
Listening to our children
Children's voices are central to our approach.
We provide age-appropriate opportunities for children to share their views, feelings and concerns. We recognise that children communicate in different ways and make appropriate adjustments to help every child have their voice heard.
Where a child receives additional support, we aim to involve them in discussions about what is happening and what helps them to feel safe, calm and ready to learn.
Working with parents and carers
Parents and carers are important partners in supporting children's wellbeing.
If you have noticed a change in your child's behaviour, mood, friendships, attendance or emotional wellbeing, please talk to us.
You can start by speaking to your child's class teacher or contacting the school office. Where appropriate, concerns can then be shared with a member of our pastoral, SEND, safeguarding or mental health team.
You do not need to wait until a problem becomes serious before asking for help. Early conversations can make a significant difference.
Mental Health and Safeguarding
The wellbeing of our pupils is closely connected to safeguarding.
Sometimes changes in a child's emotional wellbeing or behaviour may indicate that they are experiencing, or may be at risk of experiencing, abuse, neglect, exploitation or another form of harm.
Our staff are trained to recognise concerns and follow the school's safeguarding procedures. Mental health concerns are not managed in isolation where there may be a safeguarding risk.
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please see our Safeguarding Information page.
If you are worried about your child
If you are concerned about your child's emotional wellbeing or mental health, please talk to us.
You can speak to:
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your child's class teacher;
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a member of the pastoral team;
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the SEND team;
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our Senior Mental Health Lead;
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the Designated Safeguarding Lead; or
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the school office.
You do not need to wait until a problem becomes serious before asking for help.
If you are worried, please talk to us.
Our commitment
At Newall Green Primary School, we want every child to feel:
Safe. Valued. Listened to. Included. Supported. Ready to learn.
We are committed to creating a school community where children can talk about their feelings, develop resilience, build positive relationships and know that it is okay to ask for help.
Our Pupil Wellbeing and Mental Health Policy sets out our approach in more detail.
Further information on how to look after your mental health can be found on the following websites:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health
https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/