Mental Health & Wellbeing

At Hamstel Infant School and Nursery we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, parents, carers, staff and the wider community. Being able to manage and share feelings, cope with setbacks, be sensitive to others’ feelings and needs, managing worries and stress and knowing when and who to ask for help are essential skills we aim to develop in every child. We also offer support, advice, information and sign-posting to parents/carers and to staff

Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy

​

At our school, we aim to:

• Set out our school's approach to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for all children across our school.

• Provide guidance to staff on their role in supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing, including how they can foster and maintain an inclusive culture in which children feel able to talk about and reflect on their experiences of mental health.

• Support staff to identify and respond to early warning signs of mental health issues.

• Inform children and their parents/carers about the support they can expect from our school in respect of children's mental health and wellbeing, and provide them with access to resources.

As part of our school’s commitment to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for all children, our school offers support to all children by: 

• Raising awareness of mental health during assemblies and our PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills.

• Signposting all parents to sources of online support on our school website.

• Having open discussions about mental health during PSHE lessons.

• Using feelings boxes and an open-door policy in each classroom to provide children with the chance to provide feedback on any elements of our school that is negatively impacting their mental health.

• Monitoring all children’s mental health through assessments, e.g. a strengths and difficulties questionnaire, pupil progress meetings, parents evenings, regular contact between teachers and parents

• Offering pastoral support, e.g. through SLT, Sunshine Nurture base, Nurture interventions and play therapy

• Having home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.

• Providing extra transition sessions and meet the teacher sessions for when a pupil is finding a class move difficult.

• Having an allocated buddy for all new pupils.

• Providing a range of physical lunchtime activities and quieter lunchtime activities to promote mental health and wellbeing and support for pupils who find busy lunchtimes stressful.

• Using the zones of regulation as a positive behaviour system to promote talking about feelings and emotions and strategies to self-regulate.

• Including World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and planning activities for the whole school.

At a strategic level we also further demonstrate our commitment to positive mental health and wellbeing by;

• Having a designated Mental Health and Well Being Team: Mr Roche (Senior Mental Health Lead), Mrs Bryant (PSHE Lead), Mrs Eastment (Mental Health First Aid) and Miss Golding (Children and Young People’s Mental Health)

• Appointing a senior mental health lead with a strategic oversight of our whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing 

• A Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.

• Planning for the future with upcoming enhancements for September 2024 to include; 

• Play-leaders to support younger children in positive play.

• Wellbeing ambassadors to ensure our children feel valued, listened to and supported. 

• A mindfulness club to support sense of community and togetherness. 

Mental Health Support Teams
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 Mental Health and Wellbeing Team.

• Young Minds - The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. 

​​

Online Resources and Support
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: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

​

​

                                            The Little Book of Sunshine

                                            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.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

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."

​

Dealing with anxiety 

Young minds parents’ survival guide

​