Mental Health & Wellbeing
Ashwell School’s approach to wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing is fundamental to our ability to think, interact positively with others, enjoy life and cope with worries and stress.
At Ashwell School, the mental health and wellbeing of our whole community is a priority. We understand that children learn best when they feel safe, happy and healthy. We actively promote physical and mental health and equip our pupils with the skills and knowledge to help them lead healthy lives, now and in the future.
How we support mental health and wellbeing in school.
We have a multi-faceted approach to supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing.
All children are taught the skills and knowledge they need to lead healthy and safe lives. This is interwoven through our PSHCE, Science, PE and Computing curriculum, but is a feature of many other areas of the curriculum as well.
We organise many enrichment activities throughout the year focussed on children’s mental health and wellbeing. These include themed weeks, guest speakers and workshops, and special assemblies. Most notably, we participate in Feeling Good Week each year. Past themes have been around body positivity, 5 Ways to Wellbeing, and ‘Express Yourself.’
Some children need more support with their mental health and wellbeing. Staff, including our mental health champion, Mrs McBeal, run a number of interventions and nurture groups to support pupils, social, emotional and mental health needs. Interventions include Brick Club, which develops social interactions and self-esteem, Nessie My Time, which gives a safe place and space for children to express themselves, and Drawing and Talking, an intervention to explore feelings in more depth. We teach Mindfulness across the school and have targeted Mindfulness lunch time clubs.
A few children may need more skilled, professional support. We work closely with a number of outside agencies at a more targeted level, and have access to school counsellors and therapists through our relationship with NESSie, an organisation which supports the positive mental health of children and young people in North Herts.
Within the Baldock group of schools, we have a wonderful Family Support Worker who can provide additional support to families where there is a need.
What to do if you are worried about your child’s mental health/ wellbeing
We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support.
If you are worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, you could:
- Speak to their class teacher or Mrs Andrews, our Deputy Headteacher and Senco about your concerns. We may be able to put in place additional support, or signpost you to further help
- Speak to your GP – they are a useful place to gain medical support and signpost to local services.
- Explore the links below for additional advice and support.
Useful Links
Information for parents/ carers to support their child’s mental health:
Young minds – a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents.
Childline – a service run by NSPCC which provides help and advice about a range of issues.
Healthy Young Minds in Herts- provides information about emotional health and wellbeing support for children and parents/ carers in Hertfordshire.
MindEd- has advice and information from trusted experts about how you can support your family and take care of yourself.
NESSie- an organisation we work closely with providing support for children, families and professionals
Young Minds- offers advice and support about what to do if you are worried about your child’s mental health, and ways you can help. Includes a phone helpline.
Place2be- national charity offering advice and support to children and their parents/ carers
Bereavement
Winston’s Wish:
Information for parents/ carers to support their own mental health
Mind- Offers support for difficulties you may face as a parent with a mental health difficulty :
NSPCC- national charity to protect children from abuse, but with far reaching support for families :