Mental Health and Wellbeing

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Team

We have a skilled team of professionals in school who support children with their wellbeing and mental health. The team meet regularly to triage any concerns that adults may have for a child in school, and to put support in place from a range of internal and external resources in order to meet any needs at an early stage.

Adult support is provided in a variety of ways within school.

• Informal check-ins with pupils through the week
• Pupil requests for time to talk with a trusted adult
• Happy Playtimes, supported by trusted adults during play and times of social interaction
• Structured play activities, supported by adults trained in Trauma-Informed practice
• Drawing and Talking Therapy for individual pupils
• Lego Therapy for small groups of pupils
• Supported time in our Rainbow Room with sensory resources
• Supported care for our school Guinea-pigs, Peanut and Jelly
• Supported time in our Ennerdale Room with malleable and construction resources
• ELSA support for individuals or small groups of pupils (available from January)

Within each class, we have personal check-ins for pupils to share how they are feeling with their supporting adult, so any worries can be picked up quickly. Assemblies and PSHE lessons keep mental health and wellbeing high on our whole school agenda, and we mark significant events throughout the school year with assemblies and activities around Mental Health, Anti-bullying, Inclusion, Diversity and Healthy Living.

This term we will be launching a whole school programme for Decider Skills, as part of a Cumbria-wide Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative.

Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day

Anti-Bullying Week 2023 is happening from Monday 13th – Friday 17th November and has the theme ‘Make a Noise About Bullying’. It is coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which is based at the National Children’s Bureau.

Bullying affects millions of lives and can leave us feeling hopeless. But if we challenge it, we can change it.

Too often, we are silent:

• silent when we see bullying take place
• silent about the hurt bullying causes 
• silent when we hear bullying dismissed as ‘just banter’

It doesn't have to be this way. Of course, we won’t like everyone and we don’t always agree, but we can choose respect and unity.

This Anti-Bullying Week, let’s come together to have discussions about what bullying means to us, how banter can turn into something more hurtful, and what we can do to stop bullying. 

Own It - Anti-Bullying Week 2023

World Mental Health Day 2023

Every year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.  

World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.

It's also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

Children's Mental Health Week 6th - 10th February

The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘Let’s Connect’ and focuses on the importance of making meaningful connections with others to support our mental wellbeing. 

We are encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding, and meaningful ways.