Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

The World Health Organisation’s define mental health and wellbeing as “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 refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave in daily life, how they handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Positive mental health enables children to learn effectively, develop resilience, build meaningful relationships, and adapt to change.

At the primary school stage, supporting mental health is especially important, as children are developing the emotional and social foundations that will help them throughout their lives. Good mental health allows pupils to feel confident, express themselves appropriately, and engage positively in school life.

Mental health and wellbeing is not just the absence of mental health problems. We want all children/young people 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.

If you have any concerns relating to mental health, you can contact the school’s safeguarding team for support or signposting to additional help.

Who can support you in school?

All staff have a responsibility to promote positive mental health, and to understand about protective and risk factors for mental health. Some children will require additional help and all staff should have the skills to look out for any early warning signs of mental health problems and ensure that children with mental health needs get early intervention and the support they need.

Our school is committed to promoting and protecting the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils, staff, and members of our community. We recognise that mental health is a vital component of overall health and that schools play a key role in supporting early identification and intervention.

We aim to:

Promote a positive and inclusive school culture that fosters kindness, respect, and belonging.
Integrate wellbeing education across the curriculum, helping pupils to understand emotions, develop coping strategies, and build resilience.
Provide access to trained staff and support services, including wellbeing leads, counsellors, and pastoral care teams, who can offer guidance and assistance.
Ensure staff training so that all adults in school are equipped to recognise and respond appropriately to mental health concerns.
Work in partnership with parents, carers, and external agencies to provide coordinated and effective support for children’s mental health needs.

Our approach prioritises early support, open communication, and the creation of a safe and nurturing environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Specialist Services

As part of our targeted provision, the school will work with other agencies to support children’s emotional health and wellbeing including: