Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

At Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play.  

 At our school we:

Help children to understand their emotions and feelings better

Help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries

Help children socially to form and maintain relationships

Promote self esteem and ensure children know that they count

Encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’

Help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks 

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support- To meet the needs of all our pupils  through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance developing resilience for all.

Additional support- For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.  

Targeted support-  For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions.

Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: Miss Walker (SENDCO), Mrs Everett (Headteacher)

What do we currently do for mental health and wellbeing for our pupils and staff?

We have a designated Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Everett).

We have a Well-being Team made up of the following staff: Mrs Everett, Miss Walker, Miss Lomax, Mrs Glenn and Mr Lowe.

In each class we have worry jars for pupils to share their worries with a safe adult.

We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.

We hold extra half-termly meetings for pupils who need more regular meetings to support their needs.

We have home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.

We have move up days, extra transition sessions and meet the teacher sessions for when a pupil is finding a class move difficult.

We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.

We have a lunchtime drop ins / quiet lunchtimes for pupils to be able to chat/share their worries with an adult.

We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders/sports coaches to support younger children in positive play.

We have a range of physical lunchtime clubs and quieter lunchtime clubs to promote mental health and wellbeing and support for pupils who find busy lunchtimes stressful.

We have mental health and wellbeing trained staff in order to support pupils with their needs.

We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.

We have mental health and wellbeing assemblies to promote resilience and self-management.

We have a PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, habits of mind and the growth mindset.

Our ethos is to promote supporting the development of skills and character traits such as perseverance, compassion and teamwork.

We have a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.

We have a Staff Well-being Charter.

We include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

Positive Experiences
Sacred Heart offers pupils many opportunities to do physical activities as well as opportunities to relax which both are ways to promote wellbeing and positive mental health.

Lunch games to play outside

Book chest each lunch to borrow books to read

Active Learning

Yoga and massage sessions

Themed Days 

Residential visits

Educational day visits 

Before and after school clubs

Extra-curricular clubs

Children’s university

Celebrating Success
We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

Posting achievements on seesaw, twitter and facebook to celebrate what is taking place

Displaying pupil’s work

Achievement Award Assembly each week

Headteacher postcards home

Stickers and certificates

Class Assemblies 

School newsletters

Dojo points and BVP points

Curriculums
The school follows the DfE guidelines for the teaching of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the following ways:

Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) scheme of work

Active Learning

Go Noodle

Assemblies and theme days

Useful links

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

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.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/

Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Dealing with anxiety - https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

Young minds parents’ survival guide - https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families - https://www.annafreud.org/parents/

https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/grownups/healthy-minds/

Staff Wellbeing Charter

The Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body are fully committed to promoting and fostering positive well-being for pupils and staff across Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.

A happy and healthy workforce is vital for the success of our pupils. The culture of a school therefore is critical in ensuring that staff have an enjoyable, rewarding working environment in which all colleagues believe the demands of their job are reasonable and manageable.

The Wellbeing Charter demonstrates our commitment and offer to staff, and ensures that levels of stress and anxiety are reduced as low as possible in our school.

The Charter clearly sets out our collective approach for day to day delivery and how we work together, providing a framework that covers the key challenges we face as a profession. The charter also underpins our determination to ensure that our school is a great place to work.