At Hatchlands  committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of all our pupils. 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.

 We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support – to meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our curriculum. For instance, developing resilience for all and building relationships, creating a strong community for everyone to feel like they belong. A commitment to Zones of Regulationmeans emotional literacy is at the heart of our classroom and school.

Additional Support - For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement and difficult circumstances outside of school.

Targeted support - For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as ELSA with our trained ELSA, Mrs Fell. Referrals to outside agencies, for example Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

What do we do at Hatchlands to promote wellbeing?

• Help children to understand their emotions and feelings better using Zones of Regulations both inside and outside of the classroom 

• PSHE Sessions 

• A commitment to following the 5 ways to wellbeing 

  • C connecting to others

  • L opportunity to learn new things

  • A Being active

  • N Taking time to notice

  • G Opportunities to give                     

• Help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries using worry boxes and what I wish my teacher knew boxes in every classroom

• Promote our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging

• Promote pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making with our School Ambassdors and Eco-Ambassdors. 

• Celebrate academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem

• Have a commitment to restorative practice 

• Hold parents  coffee morning meetings for parents to attend and share their concerns and worries.

• Have Key Stage 2 children as wellbeing ambassadors to share ideas to promote wellbeing across School

• Hold mental health and wellbeing assemblies to promote resilience and self-management.

• Have a Mental  Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.

• Include  Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

 

Tools we use to identify and support:

• Annual pupil, parents and staff surveys

• Analysis of our behaviour and safeguarding system, CPOMS

• Observations of children, e.g. changes in behaviour or work

• Observing and monitoring children’s feelings using zones of regulations with daily check-ins

• Home link worker Mrs Fell to be able to offer support when and if needed

• Worry boxes/What I want my teacher to know boxes in every classroom

• PSHEv sessions and class circle times

 

Examples of our targeted & additional support 

• ELSA Interventions

• Lego Therapy 

• Speech and Language Support

• Home Link support and signposting to external agencies and charity for additional support where needed

 

What do I do if I am worried about my child's mental health or wellbeing?

You can:

• Go to your GP as a first port of call as they are a useful place to gain medical support and signposting of local services.

• Talk to your child’s class teacher or teaching assistant about your child's needs or your concerns.

• The Edcation Psychology Service has a helpline for parents available daily 9 – 11.30. Tel: 0116 305 5100.

• Young Minds - The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional well-being, or mental health condition. You may have a child who's already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them. Call 0808 802 5544 or visit the website.

Quick Guide to Mental Health Support for Children, Young People & Families

Additional directory of Services

 

• Young Minds - a fantastic organisation offering free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person. www.youngminds.org.uk

• ChildLine - ChildLine is the UK’s free helpline for children and young people. It provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child or young person with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects. So, if you are worried about anything, big or small – don’t bottle it up. It can really help if you talk to someone. If there is something on your mind, ChildLine is there for you. You can visit the Childline Explore section for advice and information on a range of topics. Also, you can get support on the online message boards. ‘Everyone helps each other out and is going through the same things as me – it’s a really welcoming place’ Freephone 0800 1111 (24 hours and the call won’t show on your phone bill) www.childline.org.uk

• Kooth Free online support for young people. Kooth counsellors are online Monday-Friday, 12 noon till 10pm and weekends, 6pm till 10pm. www.kooth.com

• Every Mind Matters | One You - A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

• Winston’s Wish - The death of a parent, brother or sister is one of the most fundamental losses a child will ever face. At Winston’s Wish, they believe that bereaved children need support to make sense of death and rebuild their lives. The Winston’s Wish Helpline offers support, information and guidance to all those caring for a bereaved child or young person. Helpline 08452 03 04 05 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 9.30 pm) www.winstonswish.org.uk

• Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) information for parents and carers  - 0203 260 5200

• Barnardo’s See, Hear, Respond service, provides support to children, young people and their families who aren’t currently seeing a social worker or other agency, and who are struggling to cope with the emotional impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). You can access via the ‘See, Hear, Respond’ service self-referral webpage or Freephone 0800 151 7015.

• Surrey Health & Wellbeing  Healthy Surrey can help you lead a healthier life, whether you want to be more active, drink less alcohol, stop smoking, and more.

• MindWorks Surrey The Children and Young people's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service