Mental health and wellbeing

As a school, we are keen to support and help look after the mental health of parents/carers. 

• Miss Barlow and Mrs Booth are trained Mental Health First Aiders. This means they have been trained to have an in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing. Please speak to one of them if you are concerned about your mental health as they will be able to guide you to further support.

• Our safeguarding officer Miss Turner and our pastoral officer Mrs Gregg are also on hand to support parents and carers with any aspect of mental wellbeing.

We are keen to ensure emotional wellbeing remains high profile in our school and we are working towards reducing the stigma around mental health. The children take part in a number of activities to help promote good wellbeing and mental health including:

PSHE Curriculum - We deliver the PSHE curriculum across school which aims to develop the underpinning qualities and skills that help promote positive behaviour and effective learning. This curriculum is designed to support social and emotional aspects of learning: self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and social skills.

The materials help children develop skills such as understanding another’s point of view, working in a group, sticking at things when they get difficult, resolving conflict and managing worries. They build on effective work already in place in the many primary schools who pay systematic attention to the social and emotional aspects of learning through whole-school ethos, initiatives such as circle time or buddy schemes, and the taught personal, social and health education (PSHE) and Citizenship curriculum.

To further support wellbeing:

• We have theme weeks such as ‘Mental Health week’ and “Healthy Living Week” which are built into a annual calendar of events.  During these weeks, outside agencies are invited into school to enhance our provision.

• Assemblies are regularly linked to mental health and wellbeing.

• Year 5 take part in the Healthy Relationship programme provided by Fort Alice which is “an early intervention educational programme aimed at Years 5 and 6 children, offering a minimum of four one hour teaching sessions which are mapped to the PSHE and RSE curriculum guidance. Each session incorporates a diverse range of interactive activities using resources specifically developed to ensure learner engagement through the use of games, discussions, video and role play” Specialist Children’s Workers with expertise in Domestic Abuse deliver the programme, which has a scheme of work and individual lesson plans.

Seven Steps to Wellbeing

Socialise- be social and get together with others.

Move - be active and do regular exercise

Interest - Have a hobby, keep learning!

Look - take notice of the world around you and be reflective

Eat well - eat a healthy, balanced diet

Support - be kind and give help to others

Further information on how to look after your mental health can be found on the following websites:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health

https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-yourself/

https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-symptoms/worried-about-your-mental-health/

At Gaskell, we are committed to nurturing not just academic excellence, but also the mental health and happiness of every child. We promote well-being using the evidence-based '5 Ways to Well-being' framework, which provides five simple, actionable steps everyone can take daily to improve their mental health.

We weave these five ways into our curriculum, our PSHE lessons, and our daily school life to help children build a strong, resilient foundation.

The 5 Ways to Well-being

Here is how we encourage our pupils to practise the 5 Ways:

1. Connect 🫂

Developing relationships with others.

Talking to friends, teachers, and family; participating in group work; joining clubs and activities.

2. Be Active 🏃

Moving your body and staying physically healthy.

Taking part in PE lessons, sports, and breaktime games; encouraging walking/cycling to school; using our outdoor spaces.

3. Take Notice 🧠

Being aware of the present moment and the world around you.

Practising mindfulness; focusing on sensory details in lessons (e.g., art, science); noticing and appreciating the natural environment.

4. Keep Learning 💡

Seeking out new skills and knowledge.

Being curious in class; challenging ourselves with new tasks; celebrating the joy of discovery and improvement in all subjects.

5. Give ❤️

Doing good things for others and your community.

Helping classmates and teachers; taking part in charity events; being a good friend; showing kindness and gratitude.

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Building a Well-being Toolkit

In their PSHE lessons, children actively explore these five principles and create a personal Well-being Toolkit. This involves discussion, note-taking, and creative work to identify specific activities they can do under each of the 5 Ways. This empowers every child to take ownership of their own mental health and develop a plan for staying resilient, happy, and well.

Where to get further help and support

If you're experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can go to for help.

Young Minds

Telephone: 020 7089 5050 (general enquiries)

Telephone: 0808 802 5544 (parents helpline, for any adult with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person)

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

National charity committed to improving the mental health of all babies, children and young people. Provides information for both parents and young people.

ChildLine

Telephone: 0800 1111
Website: www.childline.org.uk

ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor for free about anything - no problem is too big or too small.

Samaritans

Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Website: www.samaritans.org

Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.

Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line

Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (9.30am - 4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: online contact form
Website: http://www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice

Provides expert advice and information to people with mental health problems and those who care for them, as well as giving help to health professionals, employers and staff.

Various helplines:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/