Pupil Wellbeing

Mental Health and Well-Being

At Stalmine 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 Stalmine school, 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 to promote self-esteem
•    Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
•    Providing opportunities to reflect
•    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:
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.

Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: 
Mrs E Parkinson (SENCO and Senior Mental Health Lead Professional)
Mr D Smith (Headteacher)
Miss J Clarke (Assistant Headteacher)

What do we currently do for mental health and wellbeing for our pupils and staff?
•    We have a designated Senior Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school who is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Parkinson).
•    We have a designated trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Miss Shaw, who delivers nurture groups for pupils in liaison with our SENCO (Mrs Parkinson).
•    We employ a School Counsellor (Brenda Wignall, New Start Counselling) who attends weekly and works with a small caseload of six pupils.
•    In each class we have worry boxes 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 are part of ‘Kindness Counts’ and have two Kindness Ambassadors who promote kindness to all in school.  These acts of kindness are celebrated in half termly assemblies.
•    We have email addresses/Dojo for all teaching staff so parents can email concerns or worries.
•    We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
•    We have a lunchtime drop ins for pupils to be able to chat/share their worries with an adult.
•    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 robust PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills.
•    We have a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.
•    We have a Staff Well-being Charter and a Pupil Well-being Charter.
•    Throughout the year, we mark key days linked to Mental Health and Well-being.