Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

At Wrockwardine Wood CE Junior School the emotional and mental health and wellbeing of our children, families and staff is of utmost importance to us. We endeavour to support each in this through our school motto of 'Love, Laugh, Learn' and by 'living life in all its fullness' (John 10:10). 

Mental health is as important to a child's safety and wellbeing as their physical health. It can impact on all aspects of their life, including their educational attainment, relationships and physical wellbeing. Mental health can also change over time, to varying degrees of seriousness, and for different reasons.

Everyone has mental health just as we all have physical health and emotional health, mental health is just one of the types of health that make up who we are as an individual. When we talk about mental health, we're talking about our mental well-being: our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections, and our understanding of the world around us..

One critical aspect of a child having good mental health and wellbeing is by them knowing that they are loved – that they are loved for the unique and precious individuals they are.  Therefore we need to help children understand their feelings and emotions, by using emotional language and by giving them an emotional vocabulary to help them to understand their own and others feelings.

Wrockwardine Wood CE Juniors have accessed Department for Education funding which has been used to train a Senior Mental Health Lead. Alison Williams (SENDCo) is the current Mental Health Lead and the Head Teacher (Tracey Cartwright) is also undergoing training. Together, they are responsible for creating a whole-school approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing as well as creating an open culture in which staff, children and parents alike can discuss their mental health and wellbeing.

Wrockwardine Wood CE Juniors are also part of the Future in Mind project which strives to promote, protect and improve children and young peoples mental health and well being. Our 'champion' attends regular training and as a result of this professional development the adults in our school have a wealth of knowledge and skills to support children's Mental Health and Emotional Well Being.

How do we support children in school?

Here are some of the practical strategies we use to support children’s emotional wellbeing:

• Children taught to identify their emotions and talk about them
• Children provided with toolboxes, when appropriate, to help them manage their emotions
• Children encouraged to discuss Spirituality, be still and identify what they enjoy and what ‘makes them tick’.
• Children to spend quality time being outside, including in Forest School
• Children have a passion for learning and discovering, they need adults around them who want to learn and explore with them. As adults, we show interest and delight with children and learn alongside them
• Bespoke PHSEE curriculum that continually changes to meet the needs of our current children.
• ELSA available to all children at times of need
• Mental Health interventions such as ‘Anxiety Gremlin’ and ‘Talkabout Self-Esteem’.
• Referrals put through to Bee-U and the Mental Health team if more expertise are needed to support a child or family

Healthy Eating

The food a child eats in their early years can influence their dietary habits later in life, so it’s important to instil good habits and a healthy relationship with food from an early age. Eating a well-balanced diet can improve mood, provide more energy and help you think more clearly. The food groups that make up this balanced diet are protein foods like fish, meat and eggs, starchy foods supplying carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and milk and dairy foods.

Physical Activity

Physical activity can have an immediate and long-term impact on cognitive skills, attitudes, behaviour and concentration - all of which are important factors in academic achievement. Physical activity is taught through PE and the topics change each half term to ensure a whole coverage of sports. Children also have access to our track, completing  a mile once a week. Lunchtime Teachers have been trained in ‘Happy Lunchtimes’ to ensure our lunch times are as physical as possible with activities ranging from dancing, to circus skills to playground games.

Sleep

Sleep is as important to our health as eating, drinking and breathing. It allows our bodies to repair themselves and our brains to consolidate our memories and process information. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety. Our school Pastoral Lead, Ms Claire Ashley,  has received training as 'a champion for sleep' and can offer advice and support.

School Nurse and Health Visitors

School nursing and health visitor teams ensure that children, young people and their families health needs are assessed and supported, and where additional health needs are identified, they receive an early response, including appropriate referral to specialist services and signposting to other agencies as necessary. Please click on the link for more information.

https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/school-nurses-telford

https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/health-visiting

Useful websites to support children’s and their families mental health

Kooth – Free, safe and anonymous mental health support for older children

Kooth.com | Live Well Telford

PODS – Support for Parents and Carers

PODS Parents Opening Doors

Young Minds –  Support for parents, carers and young people

YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds

Anna Freud – Parents and Young People Support

Mental Health And Wellbeing | Anna Freud

If you have any queries or questions about Mental Health and Wellbeing please contact the Mental Health Lead Alison Williams on [email protected] or 01952 387880