Mental Health

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health and emotional wellbeing are important to our lives in just the same way as physical health and we recognise this in our schools. At Haughmond Federation through our vision of “Growth Together, Achieve Together” we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community.

The Department for Education (DfE) recognises that:

“Good mental health is important for helping children and young people to develop and thrive. Schools and colleges have an important role to play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils and students, by developing approaches tailored to the particular needs of their pupils and students. Taking a coordinated and evidence-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges can also help foster readiness to learn.”

Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing A whole school or college approach (2021)

Intent

At Haughmond Federation we aim to help develop the protective factors which build resilience to mental health problems and to be a Federation where:

• All children are valued
• Children have a sense of belonging and feel safe
• Children feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma
• Positive mental health is promoted and valued
• Bullying is not tolerated

Implementation

Haughmond Federation is a place where children experience a nurturing and caring environment that can develop self-esteem and give positive experiences to help overcome adversity and build resilience. We offer positive relationships, so critical in promoting children’s wellbeing, his helps create a sense of belonging and community.

We will provide opportunities through:

• PSHE curriculum
• Mindfulness sessions
• Mental well-being sessions
• Circle time activities
• Pastoral support sessions and interventions
• Assemblies
• Visiting speakers
• Trailblazers support

Impact

Our role in school is to make sure that our children are able to manage times of change and stress. Children will gain knowledge of where or who they can go to if they need help and support. They will learn strategies to stay mentally healthy, explore how worries and stress can affect their mental health and develop understanding and empathy with those who have mental health issues.

Mental health is not just the absence of mental health problems. We want all children to:

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• Feel confident in themselves
• Be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
• Be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others
• Cope with the stresses of everyday life
• Manage times of stress and be able to deal with change
• Learn and achieve

In addition to children’s wellbeing, we recognise the importance of our whole Federation Community’s mental health and wellbeing, encompassing staff and parents/carers.