Mental Health and Wellbeing

Glen Hills Primary School is proud to have been awarded 'Route to Resilience' accreditation for our commitment to wellbeing in school.

At Glen Hills, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff.  We know that everyone experience 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.

For our Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy, please click on the link:

For information about Pastoral support, including information on our school ELSA, please click here.

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At our school, we promote a mentall healthy environment through:

• Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
• Promoting the devlopment and strengthening of character muscles
• Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making
• Celebrating academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem
• Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
• Providing opportunities to reflect
• Access to appropriate support that meets their needs
• Helping children to understand their emotions and feelings better and to feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• Helping children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks

Wellbeing Newsletters:

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support - To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum.  For instance, developing resilience for all.

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

Targeted Support - For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups or personal mentors.

Lead staff mentors to contact if you are concerned about your child's mental health:  Mrs Fisher (School Counsellor), Ms Variava (Pastoral Lead), Mrs Wesley (Headteacher), Miss Smith (Deputy Headteacher) and Mr Storey (Assistant Headteacher).

What do we currently do for mental health and wellbeing for our pupils and staff?

• We have a designated Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Ms Variava).
• We have a wellbeing team made up of the following staff: Mrs Phillips, Ms Variava, Mrs Wesley, Miss Smith and Mr Storey.
• We have 8 trained Wellbeing Ambassadors (Year 5 and Year 6 children) who support with mental health and wellbeing amongst their peers.
• We have two worry boxes in school (one in Phase 1 and one in Phase 2) where children can condifentially note down their worries and these are responded to by Ms Variava and the Wellbeing Ambassadors.
• We have nominated school council members in each Phase 2 class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.
• We hold extra half-termly meetings for pupils who need more regular meetings to support their needs.
• We have parents' forum meetings for parents to attend and share their concerns and worries.
• We have home/school communication books for pupils who require more regular updates.
• We have move up days, extra transition sessions and meet the teacher sessions for when a pupil is finding a class move difficult.
• We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
• We have lunchtime drop ins for pupils to be able to chat/share their worries with an adult.
• We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders/sports coaches to support younger children in positive play.
• We havea range of physical lunchtime clubs and quieter lunchtime clubs to promote mental health and wellbeing and support for pupils who find busy lunchtimes stressful.
• We have mental health and wellbeing trained staff in order to support pupils with their needs.
• We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.
• We have mental health and wellbeing assemblies to promote resilience and self-management.
• We have a PSHE curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, habits of mind and the growth mindset.
• Our ethos is to promote supporting the development of skills and character traits such as perseverance, compassion and teamwork.
• We have a Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for our school which is regularly updated.
• We have a Staff Wellbeing Charter.
• We include Word Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

Positive Experiences

Glen Hills offers pupils many opportunities to do physical activities as well as opportunities to relax, which both are ways to promote wellbeing and positive mental health.

• Lunch games to play outside during 'Happy Lunchtimes'
• Library open each lunch to borrow books to read
• Active Learning
• Relaxed Kids Nurture Group
• Home Learning Projects
• Themed Days
• Residential visits
• Educational day visits
• Before and after school clubs
• Extra-curricular clubs such as yoga and mindfulness

Celebrating Success

We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

• Displaying pupils' work
• Achevement Award Assemblies each week
• Photos of achievements on our 'Proud Cloud'
• Ms Variava's 'Hot Chocolate Friday'
• 'Table of Aweseomness' lunchtime treat for pupils nominated by midday teachers
• Class assemblies
• School newsletters
• House points and Character Muscles stickers/awards
• Kindness postcards
• Route to Resilience awards
• Governor Award Assemblies