At St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that looking after the mental health and wellbeing of staff and pupils is fundamental to the health and success of the whole school. Our aim is that all staff and children are more resilient, more focused, less stressed, more open and able to cope with the pressures of life together.  

Our staff take great pride in the fact that wellbeing is at the core of everything that St. Joseph’s does. Mental well-being is at the heart of all we do. Happy, confident children are motivated, resilient learners. 

What is wellbeing and why is it important?  Wellbeing is defined as the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose and being able to manage stress. More generally, wellbeing is just feeling well.   

Some of the strategies that we have already implemented to support positive mental health and wellbeing are detailed below. We continually review the impact of these and gather the views of staff and children to improve and build on what is in place. 

Senior Mental Health Lead:  Mrs E. Turnbull 

Youth Mental Health First Aiders:  Mrs E. Turnbull and Mrs M. Reay  

ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Leads: Mrs E. Turnbull and Mrs M. Raey

We also support positive wellbeing and mental health through our focus on the following: 

Physical Fitness 

All classes have timetabled P.E. during the week which is delivered by school staff. Sports include dance, gymnastics, invasion games, hockey, swimming, football, athletics and many more. 

School Dinner 

Our school dinners are cooked on site and are designed to meet the standards for schools set by the Food Standard Agency. Children can select from different main dinner options (at least one is a vegetarian option), jacket potato with salad or sandwiches. Children are offered water or milk to drink with their school dinner. Menus are available on our website. 

Packed Lunches 

We ask that you provide your child with healthy food options. Packed lunches should not contain sweets or chocolate. If they contain a sweet snack such as a biscuit, please monitor the amount given. Children may bring in a drink to have with their packed lunch. Water, a small amount of sugar-free squash, flavoured water or fruit juice may be drunk with packed lunches in the hall. 

Water 

We ask that every child has a water bottle in school every day.  Children take their bottles home each evening to ensure they are kept clean and hygienic. If a child’s bottle empties during the school day, they will be encouraged to fill it.  Children are encouraged to drink water throughout the day. 

Wellbeing 

We teach children about feeling good, being healthy and caring for themselves through our everyday teaching, PSHE and science lessons and through all aspects of school provision. Our aim is to: 

• Enable children to understand their emotions and feelings better. 
• Encourage children to feel comfortable to share any concerns or worries. 
• Support children socially to form and maintain relationships. 
• Promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count. 
• Inspire children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’. 
• Support children to be persistent even when faced with challenges. 
• Encourage children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks. 

We know that at times children and adults may require additional support and advice to address wellbeing and mental health challenges. We have three levels of support to ensure that we provide for the needs of our school community: 

• Universal Support:  To meet the needs of all our children through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum, e.g., 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 children who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as counselling, wellbeing groups, learning mentor sessions or referral to specialists and wider professionals. 

Advice for parents and carers 

Be there to listen 

Regularly ask how they’re doing so they get used to talking about their feelings and know there’s always someone to listen if they want it. Find out how to create a space where they will open up. 

Support them through difficulties 

Pay attention to their emotions and behaviour, and try to help them work through difficulties. It’s not always easy when faced with challenging behaviour, but try to help them understand what they’re feeling and why. 

Stay involved in their life 

Show interest in their life and the things important to them. It not only helps them value who they are but also makes it easier for you to spot problems and support them. 

Encourage their interests 

Being active or creative, learning new things and being a part of a team help connect us with others and are important ways we can all help our mental health. Support and encourage them to explore their interests, whatever they are. 

Take what they say seriously 

Listening to and valuing what they say, without judging their feelings, in turn makes them feel valued. Consider how to help them process and work through their emotions in a more constructive way. 

Build positive routines 

We know it still may not be easy, but try to reintroduce structure around regular routines, healthy eating and exercise. A good night’s sleep is also really important – try to get them back into routines that fit with school.