Emotional Health and Mental Wellbeing
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. (World Health Organization.)
At St Mary’s school, we aim to promote positive mental health for every member of our staff and pupil. We pursue this aim using both universal, whole school approaches and specialised, targeted approaches aimed at vulnerable pupils.
Social, Emotional, Mental Health & Wellbeing Information
The SENDCo is Mrs Hepworth.
The SEMH&W Lead is Mr Day.
Our Link Governor for Special Education Needs is Mrs Croston
Our Link Governor for SEMH&W is Mrs Smith
Whole school curriculum approach to teaching about mental health
St Mary’s School promotes positive mental health for all children. Support is embedded in all classrooms and is part of the whole school approach. This is achieved through a variety of initiatives such as Emotional Thermometers, Circle Time, Daily Mile and Worry Wellies in class.
The school follows the 5 ways to Wellbeing using Health in Mind Resources:
Mental Health Intervention for Identified Children
The school also has a selection of specific interventions for any children who are identified as having social, emotional, mental, health or well-being difficulties. These are delivered by specially trained school staff, sometimes in consultation with outside agencies. The interventions delivered include: Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA), self-esteem groups, friendship groups, play skills, social skills groups, 1:1 talking therapy and trauma Informed Schools approaches and strategies.
What is ELSA?
The ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) intervention was originally developed within Southampton, then Hampshire, by Sheila Burton, an Educational Psychologist. It was designed to build the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils from within their own resources. It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed. This intervention is now widely implemented by educational psychologists across Britain.
ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists, who apply their professional knowledge of children’s social and emotional development to areas of need experienced by pupils. They provide on-going professional supervision to help maintain high quality in the work undertaken by ELSAs, thereby helping to ensure safe practice for ELSAs and pupils alike.
ELSA Resources:
ELSA support website: https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/
Some Useful websites:
Below are some great resources for parents and children
http://www.minded.org.uk/families
Files to Download
