Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Berwick Hills Primary School we aim to promote the Mental Health and Well Being of all our pupils, staff and parent/carers. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support.
We strive to ensure that within the Berwick Hills community every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to the wider community.
Through our induction, curriculum, training and provision we aim to equip the pupils, staff (including Governors) and parents/carers with the learning environment and skills they need in order to keep safe, happy and healthy in mind and body.
We work closely with South Tees mental health support Team (MHST) named Inside Out and they work alongside HeadStart whose aim is to give all Middlesbrough’s children the necessary support to build resilience to achieve good emotional health.
The aim of the HeadStart school programme is to make sure that children and young people are happy and enjoy their time at school. There are many things that impact on the emotional well-being of children; falling out with friends, the pressures of social media, keeping up with studies. We want all our children to have good emotional health, to have the skills and confidence to cope, solve problems, achieve well and be happy. HeadStart is a whole school approach where everyone feels safe and comfortable to be themselves, learn and develop in a positive environment and access support when needed. Our peer mentoring programme equips children with the skills to support each other effectively.
We are supported in school to provide early intervention mental health support for our pupils by our Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) from Inside Out. EMPHs can provide low intensity evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate needs and referring on to specialist support where needed. At Berwick Hills the EMPH supports school with a whole school approach to mental health by delivering assemblies, group work interventions, child drop ins, staff, child or parent workshops.
In addition, we are teaching children, staff and parents proactive mental health strategies to use at home and at school. These strategies are from the ‘Decider’ and are designed to help us be more resilient, resourceful, responsible, robust and respectful.
Lead Staff Members:
Tessa Smith: Headteacher (Mental Health Lead)
Jane Parker-Hack: SENDCO, Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mental Health Lead)
Helen Dalton: Family Services Lead
Beth Williams: Parent Support Advisor
Sara Dawson: Emotional and Behavioural Support
CATs Counsellor
Emotional Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
Hannah Johnson: ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
Well Being links for children
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-after-yourself/
Wellbeing links for parents
https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/getting-help-posters/#parents-helpline
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/camhs-information-for-parents-and-carers/
Wellbeing links for staff
https://www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk/staff-engagement-wellbeing
https://mindfulintheclassroom.wordpress.com/teachers-schools-a-guide-to-having-a-mindfulness-practice-why/
Mental health resources for teachers and teaching staff (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Mental health and wellbeing provision in schools- Research Report
