Mental Health and Well-being

Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Cobbs Brow Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. 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.

For our Mental Health & Wellbeing Policy, please click here.

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

• Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
• 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

Our pastoral team consists of:

Pastoral Lead – Mrs Lisa Pugh

Attendance Officer – Mrs Baxter

SENDCO and Senior Mental Health Lead – Miss Sharples

Safeguarding Leads – Mr Eaton, Mrs Pugh, Miss Sharples and Mrs Barrett

School Offer

At Cobbs Brow we work closely with external agencies such as the Children and Family Wellbeing Service, Confident Minds and Compass Bloom and 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.

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

• We have a designated Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Miss Sharples).
• We have a Pastoral Team and Wellbeing Teams to represent pupils and staff.
• We have a designated trained staff members who can deliver appropriate interventions such as Block Therapy.
• Staff are also trained in delivering Early Help and completing the Graded Care Profile.
• In each class we have worry boxes for pupils to share their worries with a safe adult and resources such as wellbeing bears to help support pupils.
• We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and gain feedback in class assemblies.
• We operate an open door policy and have Seesaw for all teaching staff so parents can contact class teachers with any concerns or worries.
• We have home/school communication books for pupil’s who require more regular updates.
• We have move up days, extra transition sessions and meet the teacher sessions for all and additional sessions when a pupil is finding a class move difficult.
• We have an allocated buddy for all new pupils.
• We have Key Stage 2 children as play-leaders/sports coaches to support younger children in positive play.
• We have a range of physical lunchtime activities and quieter lunchtime activities 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 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 include World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.