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Mental Health and well being

How we support mental health and wellbeing

We strongly believe that children need to be mentally healthy if they are to learn and thrive at school. We are committed to helping every pupil to realise their full potential by supporting them with understanding how and why they think and feel the way they do.

Our pupils are taught self-care techniques via a rich and varied curriculum, including exercise, nutrition, recognising and managing their emotions as well as how to build and nurture relationships. We teach pupils how they can help themselves and each other with their mental health in an age-appropriate way.

Whole school learning

We take a whole school approach to wellbeing through our curriculum. For example:

  • Policies to support mental health and wellbeing, including attendance, safeguarding and child protection and PSHE
  • An active school council and wellbeing ambassadors
  • Parent workshops run by our NELFT mental health and wellbeing practitioners
  • Whole school awareness days to promote wellbeing
  • Whole school mental health techniques taught and promoted to pupils via Zones of Regulation, mindfulness/meditation, Mindfulness in Schools Project (MISP/.breathe), Active8
  • Annual Health Living Week to promote physical and mental wellbeing
  • PSHE lessons that incorporate the DfE’s Relationships and Sex Education curriculum.
  • Pupil Voice Conference held annually for children to give staff their feedback on all school matters, including mental health and wellbeing
  • Worry monsters (KS1) and worry boxes (KS2) in each classroom.
  • Spaces for all pupils to use to support their mental health, including lunch club, Calm Club (a safe space for quiet time and staff available to chat about any worries) [pending] and use of the sensory garden for quiet playtimes (Terms 1, 5 and 6 only)

Pupils in need of additional support

We are aware of risk factors that may indicate a pupil needs help and we know our children well to recognise changes in their behaviour and personality. Pupils are referred for support with their mental health and wellbeing via a Pupil Referral Form. We then use our Mental Health and Wellbeing Provision Plan to guide our responses. These may include:

  • One-to-one and group work with trained school staff
  • Referral to our NELFT trained mental health and wellbeing practitioners
  • Referral to our ELSA
  • Referral to our school counsellor
  • Collaboration with parents/carers to signpost them to external services offering access to mental health

We are happy to work with you to support your child, so if you are concerned about any element of your child’s mental health or wellbeing, please do contact a member of the team to discuss your concerns.

If you are looking for external support for your child, beyond the help and assistance that we can provide in school, you might find the following contacts useful:

General Support

Available locally:

  • www.kentresiliencehub.org.uk - Headstart Kent (support for parents and educators about looking after children’s mental health)
  • www.moodspark.org.uk – a website designed by young people from Kent for young people from Kent. Contains lots of resources about building up resilience
  • www.kooth.com – online community and online counselling for young people. The counselling is free to young people in Kent. Can be accessed from home and the counsellors are fully qualified.
  • Early Help - 03000 414141 or visit www.kent.gov.uk (early intervention to help with behaviour and problems within the family setting). 
  • Kent Young Carers - call 0300 111 1110 or email youngcarers@imago.community
  • www.fegans.org.uk - Fegans Counselling Services – call 01892 538288
  • www.releasethepressure.uk - Text ‘Kent’ to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160 for free, confidential 24/7 support for anyone, any age, who is struggling to cope.
  • www.salusgroup.org.uk - Project Salus (intervention offered to support bullying, ASC, domestic abuse, e-safety, emotional wellbeing and social development)
  • www.home-start.org.uk - Home Start Kent supports parents learning to cope with everyday challenges they face to build better lives for their children
  • www.nelft.nhs.cuk - NELFT/CAMHS/CYPMHS – access to clinical consultation and specialist mental health services. Call Single Point of Access on 0800 011 3474 or visit the website to access the online Single Point of Access request for support form

Available nationally:

  • www.chathealth.nhs.uk - ChatHealth offers online messaging support linked to physical and mental health for young people and their families
  • www.togetherall.com – online community providing mental health support
  • www.youngminds.org.uk – lots of support and articles. Includes a phone line for young people and a phone line for parents
  • www.themix.org.uk – website providing support for young people aged 10-25. Includes a phone line, chat service and online messenger for crisis support
  • Shout 85258 is the UK’s first free, confidential 24/7 text support service. Find out more at www.giveusashout.org

Alcohol abuse

  • www.nacoa.org.uk - Nacoa supports anyone affected by their parent’s drinking. There is a free helpline you can access by calling 0800 358 3456
  • www.childline.org.uk - the Childline website has a special section for primary aged children under the age of 12 and includes a mood tracker plus links to chat online or via email. Call the helpline on 0800 1111

Bereavement

Available locally

  • www.chums.uk.com - offers mental health and emotional wellbeing support for children, young people and their families plus a specialist bereavement service in Kent. Call 01622 427300 or email info@chums.uk.com
  • www.fegans.org.uk - Fegans Counselling Services – call 01892 538288

Available nationally

Bullying

  • www.kidscape.org.uk - Kidscape Parent Advice Line (for young people, single parents, carers and professionals) open Monday and Tuesday 9.30am to 2.30pm 020 7823 5430;
    WhatsApp 07496 68278

Divorce

  • www.youngminds.org.uk – lots of support and articles. Includes a phone line for young people and a phone line for parents
  • www.gingerbread.org.uk - Gingerbread is the national charity for single parents and offers a helpline and webchat service. Call the helpline on 0808 802 0925

Eating Disorders

Available locally

Available nationally

  • www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk - BEAT’S helplines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm and from 4pm-12pm at the weekend and Bank Holidays or call 0808 801 0677 or access support via the online chat rooms. You can also find free self-help guides to download

Suicide Prevention

  • www.papyrus-uk.org – advice and support is available for children and young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or for anyone concerned about a young person, by calling the HopelineUK on 0800 068 4141. You can also text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

Zones of Regulation | Teaching Resources