Mental Health
We use the World Health Organisation’s definition of mental health and wellbeing: … 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.
Mental health and well-being is not just the absence of mental health problems. We want all children to
- feel confident in themselves
- be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
- be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others
- cope with the stresses of everyday life
- manage times of stress and be able to deal with change
- learn and achieve
Useful Links and Resources
Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy.pdf
'We all have mental health' video
My Young Mind Enfield Mental Health Workshop Presentation
Children and Mental Health Brochure for Parents
Supporting your children's emotional literacy
Kooth - Digital Mental Health Platform
Beacon House Resources, Information and Videos
Mental Health and Our Curriculum
All children are entitled to develop to their fullest potential academically, socially, physically and emotionally. Being emotionally healthy enables each child to grow in confidence and be able to fully participate in everything that goes on in the wider community. It is widely recognised that a child’s emotional health and wellbeing influences their cognitive development and learning, as well as their physical and social health and their mental wellbeing in adulthood.
The department for Education recognises that, in order to help their pupils succeed: schools have a role to play in supporting them to be resilient and mentally healthy.
At St Edmund's we offer support for children's mental health and emotional well-being in the following ways:
- Use of Ten Ten to meet the expectations of the RSE curriculum
- Weekly PSHE sessions
- 'Wow' days
- Cultural days when we celebrate our diversity
- Play therapy
- SWERRL (Primary Behaviour Support Service) support for classroom practice and individualised interventions
- Support/interventions/workshops from My Young Mind Enfield and the Educational Psychology Service
- We are a 'Healthy School'
- Early Morning Work Mindfulness focus
- Flexible curriculum to meet the needs of the children
- Wide range of extra-curricular activities including a wide variety of after school clubs, trips and workshops
- Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) interventions
- Play therapy – the therapist works one to one with children and helps them to express their feelings through play, arts and crafts
- Wellbeing stations
- ‘Base’ is a safe space for children who are finding things overwhelming and who need help from an adult. Our Mental Health Lead/SENCo and Our Early Years SENCO are in ‘Base’ to support the children in any way necessary
- The Senior Leadership Team has an open door policy for children and adults.
- Key members of staff have had training in Trauma Informed Practice which has been shared with all staff
- Pastoral Support Plans that are reviewed with school, children and parents termly
- Each classroom has a ‘worry box’
Parents - Looking After Your Own Mental Health
ELSA
ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) is a teaching assistant who has had specialist training and is regularly supervised by an Educational Psychologist to support the emotional needs of children within the school. The intervention helps children to recognise, understand and express emotions appropriately. Our wonderful ELSA is Mrs Wyse.
An ELSA can help with
- Social skills
- Anger management
- Understanding Emotions
- Relationships
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Loss and Bereavement
The interventions are half an hour weekly during the school day and usually last for six weeks.
If you have any questions or feel that your child might benefit from ELSA sessions, please contact Mrs Wyse or Ms Graves.