Sometimes children need support with Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

At St. Mary’s we are promoting the Health and Well-Being of children as we understand that a healthy body and mind will enable the child to reach their full potential to become a lifelong learner.

Mental health is how we feel, how we think and how we behave. Mental Health Promotion for children and is everybody’s business. At St. Mary’s, we recognise that all children and adults need the foundation of positive mental health to benefit fully from all of the opportunities available to them.

It is about:

• being able to form and maintain relationships with others
• being adaptable to change and other people’s expectations
• being able to have fun
• being open to learning
• being able to develop a sense of right and wrong
• being able to develop the resilience to manage ordinary setbacks

All children and adults need to:

• be able to Connect with others by participating in groups and teams
• know they are Capable and able to achieve
• know they Count in their world and can contribute to their community
• know they have Courage and can manage risks appropriately

Everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable. At times, anyone may need additional support to maintain or develop good mental health.

The mental health of children and adults in school, parents and carers and the wider whole school community will impact on all areas of development, learning, achievement and experiences. All children have the right to be educated in an environment that supports and promotes positive mental health for everybody.

St. Mary’s provides a learning environment that promotes and enhances positive mental health. A consistent approach means that the school environment and school ethos all promote the mental health of the whole school community. Healthy relationships underpin positive mental health and have a significant impact.

Here are some of the things we do at St. Mary’s do to support children’s social, emotional and mental health. We provide opportunities that promote positive mental health, through the standard curriculum and extended provision:

• Our PHSE curriculum
• Self-esteem Groups
• Early identification of needs through a graduated approach to teaching and learning
• Differentiated learning activities
• Additional Support
• Drawing and Talking Therapy
• Trained staff
• Growth Mindset
• Regular updated training for staff

Helpful Websites and links to support children with their wellbeing and mental health:

Parenting Smart (Place2Be)

The children's mental health charity, Place2Be, has launched a new website aimed at helping parents with typical situations they can find themselves in with their children.

Advice can be found on over forty topics including:

• Understanding sibling rivalry 
• My child is lying, what does it mean, what should I do?
• My child has trouble going to sleep
• My child says ‘I hate you!’
• Cultural identity: who am I?

The Parenting Smart website can found here: https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/

NSPCC

The NSPCC and Childline have published a set of downloadable posters to support two campaigns: Nobody is Normal (about being different); and Tough to Talk (boys' mental health).

The posters can be downloaded here: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/childline-posters-wallet-cards

Nobody is Normal page is here: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/normal/

Tough to Talk page is here: https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/mental-health/tough-to-talk

Anna Freud Website

Anna Freud Website has useful information for parents on children’s mental health and wellbeing

https://www.annafreud.org/parents-and-carers/resources/

NHS

A link to the public NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/

Growth Mindset

Information on helping to develop a growth mindset with your children at home.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/help-your-child-try-new-things

Please scroll down to the bottom of this page for more useful links to help your child.