Mental Health and Wellbeing at High Ercall Primary School
Key Staff:
Mrs Sarah Roberts: Headteacher and SENDCo
Miss Lauren Fletcher: Class Teacher and Mental Health Lead
Mr Paul Meredith: Mental Health First Aider
At High Ercall Primary School, we have developed a community where children can enjoy a welcoming, secure, happy and healthy environment, where all members can develop self-confidence, self-esteem, self-motivation, independence, compassion, tolerance and understanding of others. We have a supportive and caring ethos model of respect and kindness, where everyone is valued.
We are committed to developing our own professional development around mental health and wellbeing; this ensures we are up to date with the latest approaches. We currently attend Future in Mind workshops and have developed the Mental Health Lead role. We join in with a range of wellbeing awareness days and plan activities for the whole school community. For example, this year we have celebrated ‘Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week’ and ‘Anti-Bullying Day’. We know that everyone experiences life challenges than can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We believe that everyone has a key role to play in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the school.
We promote a mentally healthy environment through:
The 5Rs - The 5Rs are thread throughout the PSHE curriculum which covers the RSE statutory requirements.
- Respect is taught through promoting positive friendships and relationships.
- Resilience is taught through developing strategies towards positive thinking, future aspirations and teamwork skills.
- Resourcefulness is taught through building self-esteem and confidence within the pupils.
- Responsibility is taught through learning about careers, the economy, first aid and online safety.
- Reflectiveness is encouraged through gratitude and offering opportunities to reflect.
The Wellbeing Warriors
The Wellbeing Warriors are a group of children from Years 4, 5 and 6 lead by Miss Fletcher, the Class 4 teacher and Mental Health Lead. The group believes that promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the school is fundamental. We meet on a regular basis to ensure that any concerns are highlighted and that the mission statement that we have in place, is implemented and effective.
Whole School Approach
- 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.
- Celebrating success through tweets, certificates, class assemblies, and sharing experiences.
- Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others.
- Access to appropriate support that meets their needs.
Promotion of positive mental wellbeing
The school offers pupils many opportunities to do physical and relaxing activities to promote positive wellbeing:
- Themed days such as our beach day
- Fundraising days such as our reindeer run
- Summer and Christmas Fairs
- Residential visits including Arthog
- Educational visits with valuable links to our curriculum
- After school clubs focusing on sports, creativity and building skills in ICT
- Play/lunchtime games
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 the 5Rs across the school.
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. Staff across the school provide appropriate interventions for pupil’s mental health and wellbeing through lego therapy, social skills groups and 1:1 wellbeing support.
Parents and Carers - Parents or carers should approach their child/children’s class teacher if they have any mental health concerns. This will be shared with the Mental Health Leader for assessment. In addition to offering universal support within school, we may also discuss with you additional support mechanisms available to you.
Mental Health Concern for Your Child
The school values the support of parents by working in partnership with them to support their child. If parents have a mental health concern about their child they are most welcome to discuss this with Mrs Sarah Roberts, Headteacher and Miss Fletcher, Mental Health Lead.
Mental Health Concern for Yourself
If parents have a mental health concern about themselves they are most welcome to discuss this with any of the staff mentioned above who can signpost you to any support agencies.
Signposting Information
Below, we have sign-posted information and guidance about the issues most commonly seen in school-aged children. The links will take you through to the most relevant page of the listed website. Some pages are aimed primarily at parents, but they are listed here because we think they are useful for students and school staff too.
