Wellbeing

At Barrow 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.  

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

  • 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

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support- To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum.

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.

Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: Mrs Woodland (SENDCO), Mrs Ashe (Headteacher) and Miss Fairweather (Deputy Headteacher).

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

  • We have a designated Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead in school who is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Woodland).
  • We deliver nurture groups for pupils, such as small group ‘time to talk’ social skills work, resilience skills, 'it’s good to be me' groups and 1:1 check in with pupils in liaison with our SENDCo
  • We have a Pastoral Team made up of the following staff: Mrs Woodland, Mrs Ashe and Miss Fairweather
  • We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.
  • We hold extra half-termly meetings for pupils who need more regular meetings to support their needs.
  • We have parents’ SENDCO meetings for parents to attend and share their concerns and worries.
  • We have communication routes to staff so parents can email concerns or worries.
  • We have home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.
  • We have move up days, extra transition sessions and meet the teacher sessions for when a pupil is finding a class move difficult.
  • We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
  • We have a lunchtime drop ins for pupils to be able to chat/share their worries with an adult.
  • We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders/sports coaches to support younger children in positive play.
  • We have a range of active and quieter clubs to promote mental health and wellbeing.
  • We have adult support for pupils who find busy lunchtimes stressful.
  • We have mental health and wellbeing trained staff in order to support pupils with their needs.
  • We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.
  • We have mental health and wellbeing 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 motivation, confidence and responsibility through our Barrow Boost programme
  • We have a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.
  • We include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

Positive Experiences

Barrow 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.

  • Lunch games to play outside
  • Library sessions each week to borrow books to read at home
  • Nurture Groups
  • Home Learning Projects
  • Themed Days
  • Residential visits
  • Educational day visits
  • Before and after school clubs
  • Extra-curricular clubs such as yoga

Celebrating Success

We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

  • Posting achievements on Google Classroom, Twitter and weekly bulletins to celebrate what is taking place
  • Displaying pupil’s work
  • Celebration Assembly each week
  • School newsletters
  • Merit points

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
  • Assemblies and theme days

Interventions to support Mental Health and Wellbeing

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

  • Drawing and Talking Therapy
  • Lego Therapy
  • Counselling
  • Mentoring
  • Self-esteem individual and group activities
  • Bereavement Counselling

Mental Health Support Teams

We are currently living through extremely challenging times, and now perhaps more than ever, looking after our mental health and well-being is of paramount importance to us all.

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. Referrals for the School Nurse service can be made both through your GP and through school.
  • Talk to your child’s class teacher or teaching assistant about your child's needs or your concerns.
  • Talk to the school’s SENDCO and Designated Mental Health and Wellbeing lead (Mrs Woodland)
  • 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.

For information and resources re: understanding and improving mental health and well-being, contact MIND. Tel: 0300 123 3393  https://www.mind.org.uk/

NHS Resources https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/- A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

NHS Berkshire West and East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have relaunched the mental health booklet – the Little Blue Book of Sunshine:  Little Blue Book of Sunshine 2020.pdf.

The book offers lots of practical and useful advice and aims to help children and young people by sharing tips on how to deal with problems, such as anxiety, stress, relationships and anger. It also includes information about where to get help when they need it.

Wellbeing Newsletter

Useful links

Some useful resources that you could use at home to support your child’s mental health are below:

Advice for parents and carers: talking mental health with young people at primary school

This leaflet which was created alongside the Talking Mental Health Animation & Toolkit, features an introduction from our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge who supported the You're never too young to talk mental health campaign stating the campaign's resources "demonstrate how we can help children express their feelings, respond appropriately, and prevent small problems from snowballing into bigger ones."

 

tmh-parent-leaflet-final-web-updated-by-ed-april-2020.pdf (annafreud.org)

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/

https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

Supporting the wellbeing of children has never been so important. To assist you in doing this, SSS have produced two fantastic free parental resources for you:

To watch or read about these tips, simply click on the links:

Child Mental Health & Wellbeing - 10 Top Tips for Parents
https://ssslearning.co.uk/index.cfm/education/parentsandguardians/child-mental-health-10-tips-for-parents

Parents' Mental Health & Wellbeing - 10 Top Tips for Parents
https://ssslearning.co.uk/index.cfm/education/parentsandguardians/your-mental-health-10-tips-for-parents

Useful Booklets/Publications:

Public Health England How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children's Wellbeing

Mental Health Parent Leaflet Anna Freud Centre

Wellbeing Booklist

The Anxious Child Booklet for Parents

Worry Doll Instructions

You need to know guide for parents

10 key areas to happier living poster

Relaxation tips for bedtime

Sleep and Diet Parent Leaflet

Bedtime routine for Parents

Mindfulness Booklet A brief guide

Bereavement Resources

Schools Information Pack - Bereavement

Young Minds Publications offers information on a variety of mental health issues from school problems to mental illness in families.

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/shop/?utm_source=eshot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=360&utm_content=september

Young Minds Parents Guide To Support A-Z gives you advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and life events which might be negatively affecting their wellbeing.

They also show you where you can get help:  https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/

 https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/- Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental

health and wellbeing.

Feelings tracker:  Tracking My Feelings.pdf

Anxiety thermometer:  Anxiety Thermometer.pdf

Mindfulness calendar:  Mindfulness Calendar Daily 5 Minute Activities.pdf

Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety - Knowing the symptoms, how to talk to and

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

help-your-child-with-anxiety

 https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/grownups/healthy-minds/

Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and mental health, so that they can be

listened to, are happy together and ready to learn is vitally important to us.

Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.