At Baydon 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.

We promote a mentally healthy environment through:

• Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
• Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making
• Celebrating academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem
• Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
• Providing opportunities to reflect, including reflection in our worship times
• Access to appropriate support that meets their needs
• Helping children to understand their emotions and feelings better and to feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• Helping children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks

We offer different levels of support to pupils in our school. These are:

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 such as wellbeing groups or personal mentors.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health please contact your child’s class teacher or Mrs Gilbert (Headteacher and SENCO).

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 Gilbert).
• We have two designated trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) , Mrs Xavier and Mrs Waterer
• We have a team of staff who have undertaken THRIVE training, including Mrs Gilbert, Mrs Chudasama, Mrs Waterer and Mrs Xavier.
• We have a level two mental health first aider on staff, Mrs Chudasama
• We have nominated school council members 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 ClassDojo accounts for all teaching staff so parents can email concerns or worries (replies will be within working hours).
• We have home/school communication books for pupils when needed.
• 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 Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders/sports coaches to support younger children in positive play at different times of the school day.
• 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 worships 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 include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

Celebrating Success

We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

• Posting achievements on Class Dojo to celebrate what is taking place
• Displaying pupil’s work
• Celebration Worship each week
• School newsletters
• Dojo points and House points

Curriculum

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

• Through our Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) scheme of work
• Worship
• Theme days

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 or directly to the school nurse. Please contact the school for contact information or visit their website.
• Talk to your child’s class teacher or teaching assistant about your child’s needs or your concerns.
• Talk to the school’s SENDCO/ Designated Mental Health and Wellbeing lead – Mrs Gilbert.
• The website onyourmind  is run by Barnardo’s and funded by Wiltshire Council. The website is supporting early intervention for children. The website also contains information for parents.
• Young Minds – The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional well-being, or mental health condition. You may have a child who’s already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them. Call 0808 802 5544 or visit the website.
• CAHMS – Children Adolescent Health Mental Health Service 
• The Samaritans can be contacted in a variety of ways, details can be found on their website.

For information and resources re: understanding and improving mental health and well-being, contact MIND. Tel: 0300 123 3393    https://www.mind.org.uk/

NHS Resources
Here are a few simple ways you can encourage your child to express themselves. Could you build on existing interests or passions? Think about what has helped them get through the past year. A love of dancing? Baking? Drawing? Fashion? Encourage your child by

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.

NHS Berkshire West and East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have relaunched the mental health booklet – the Little Blue Book of Sunshine:  Little Blue Book of Sunshine 2020.pdf.

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.

Useful Links

Some useful resources that you could use at home to support your child’s mental health are below:

Advice for parents and carers: talking mental health with young people at primary school

This leaflet which was created alongside the 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.”

tmh-parent-leaflet-final-web-updated-by-ed-april-2020.pdf (annafreud.org)

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.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

Useful Booklets/Publications:

 Public Health England How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children’s Wellbeing
 Mental Health Parent Leaflet Anna Freud Centre
 Wellbeing Booklist
 The Anxious Child Booklet for Parents
 Worry Doll Instructions
 You need to know guide for parents
 10 key areas to happier living poster
 Relaxation tips for bedtime
 Sleep and Diet Parent Leaflet
 Bedtime routine for Parents
 Mindfulness Booklet A brief guide
 Bereavement Resources
 Schools Information Pack – Bereavement

Young Minds Publications offers information on a variety of mental health issues from school problems to mental illness in families. https://youngminds.org.uk/shop/publications/

Young Minds Parents Guide To Support A-Z gives you advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and life events which might be negatively affecting their wellbeing. They also show you where you can get help:
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/– Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Feelings tracker:  Tracking My Feelings.pdf

Anxiety thermometer:  Anxiety Thermometer.pdf

Mindfulness calendar:  Mindfulness Calendar Daily 5 Minute Activities.pdf

Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety – Knowing the symptoms, how to talk to and support your child with anxiety:  https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

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

Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and mental health, so that they can be listened to, are happy together and ready to learn is vitally important to us. Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

CAMHS

CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

For more information, visit their website.

CAMHS also have some excellent resources for parents:

DOWNLOADS | CAMHS Resources (camhs-resources.co.uk)

Bereavement

If you have suffered a bereavement and feel that school can support, please do contact us. Organisations below can also support, including Winston’s wish which is aimed at supporting children in particular.

Grief Support
NHS bereavement support
Winston’s Wish

Books to support Bereavement:

• Dogger – gentle intro to discussion for very young children
• Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (particularly useful if an older person has died).
• Michael Rosen’s Sad Book
• Tattybogle by Sandra Ann Horn
• Muddles, Puddles & Sunshine by Winstons Wish – is an activity book.
• Vicky Angel by Jaqueline Wilson (a friend’s death,  for older children)

Staff Wellbeing Charter

The  Governing Body are fully committed to promoting and fostering positive well-being for pupils and staff in our 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 the organisation.

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.