Mental Health and Wellbeing
At William Gilbert C of E Primary School and Nursery, 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.
At our school we:
- help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
- help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
- help children socially to form and maintain relationships
- promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
- encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
- help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
Two key elements to support good mental health are:
- Feeling Good – experiencing positive emotions like happiness, contentment, and enjoyment. Including feelings like curiosity, engagement, and safety.
- Functioning Well – how a person is able to function in the world, this includes positive relationships and social connections, as well as feeling in control of your life and having a sense of purpose.
Our role in school is to ensure that children can manage times of change and stress, and that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. Children are taught when to seek help, what help is available, and the likely outcome of seeking support so that they have the confidence and knowledge for themselves or others. We also have a role to ensure that children learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health and how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. As part of our targeted provision, we have and continue to access, outside help and support for pupils when required.
At William Gilbert C of E Primary School and Nursery, we believe that teaching about mental health and emotional wellbeing as part of a comprehensive RSHE curriculum is vital. RSHE is central to the curriculum across the whole school and assists pupils to cope with the changes at puberty, introduces them to a wider world, manage transitions and enables them to make an active contribution to their communities. The concepts covered in RSHE include keeping safe and managing risk, identity, equality, managing feelings and emotions, relationships, change, resilience and being healthy, which includes physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. We aim to promote pupils’ wellbeing through an understanding of their own and others’ emotions and the development of healthy coping strategies.
Good mental health and wellbeing is just as important as good physical health. Like physical health, mental health can range across a spectrum from healthy to unwell; it can fluctuate on a daily basis and change over time. Children at William Gilbert C of E Primary School and Nursery have two lessons of PE each week. A wide range of sport-related after school clubs are run by teachers and external coaches, whilst many of our pupils take part in inter-school sporting competitions which include an extensive range of sports and activities. Our proficient young leaders are excellent at organising activities and games during play times to encourage higher levels of physical activity and promote inclusion.
We include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole 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 nurture mentors.
Lead staff members:
Mrs Aston is our Wellbeing and Pastoral Mentor (Early Help) Mrs Aston can be contacted directly, please email pastorallead@williamgilbertend.derbyshire.sch.uk
Mrs Owen and Miss Whiting are our accredited Mental Health First Aiders and Lead.
Mrs Bradshaw is our Nurture sessions leader.
Useful links
Mental Health Leaflet…coming soon
Young minds parents’ survival guide
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Mentally Healthy Schools – Resources for single parents
Anorexia Bulimia Care for friends and family
Counselling and Mental Health referrals
