At Grasslot Infant School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff, parents and carers. 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.
For our Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy, please click on the link:
At our 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 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
- 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 nurture groups or ELSA support.
Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health:
Mrs Lisa Chilton (SENDCO & Headteacher) and Mrs Angela Holliday (ELSA – Emotional Literacy Support Assistant & Mental Health Lead).
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 Holliday).
- We have a designated trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) , Mrs Angela Holliday who delivers nurture groups for pupils, such as small group ‘time to talk’ social skills work, resilience skills, 'it’s good to be me' groups and 1:1 check in with pupils in liaison with our SENDCos (Special Needs & Disabilities Co-Ordinator)
- We have a Well-being Team made up of the following staff: Mrs Chilton, Mrs Holliday, Mrs Brannon (Deputy Safeguarding Lead) and Governors with responsibility- Mrs Rachel Routledge and Mrs Patsy Harvey.
- We have nominated school council members in Year 2 to represent their peers and gain feedback in meetings.
- We have email addresses/Tapestry for all teaching staff so parents can share their concerns or worries.
- 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 lunchtime and playground buddies. .
- 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 a PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, habits of mind and the growth mindset.
- We have a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.
- We have a Staff Well-being Policy.
- We include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.