Imagine...with all your mind, Believe...with all your heart, Achieve...with all your might.
Mental Health & Well-Being
At Scotts Primary School we know the importance of all members of our community being healthy in both body and mind. The world in which we live can be an uncertain and constantly changing place and now more than ever we must pull together to support one-another.
As such we have- and will continue to- invest a lot of time and resources into promoting mental well-being within school. We are proud to be a Mentally Healthy School and are working collaboratively with both staff in school and with external agencies to ensure that we are able to offer support to those who need it.
There will always be challenges that arise for children and adults that can affect their ability to be happy and successful and we are very proud of the supportive team that we have developed who are on hand to support during these times.
As parents and carers, you are a vital part of our school community and if you are concerned about your own mental health, we can signpost you towards agencies that can support you too.
Our pastoral team
Mrs J Taylor - Senior Mental Health Lead and SENDCo
Mrs S Sfaltos - School Counsellor
Mrs J Monk - ELSA
Mrs M Walsh - ELSA
"After it's been raining, the sun comes out... that's when you see a Rainbow!" Lexi,
"The rainbows are there when there isn't rain too.. it's there to see the sun!" Alfie
"Rainbows are made by all different colours... the children in our school are all different and we are all part of our school rainbow!" Millie
"I am a rainbow! I wear my badge so that everyone knows that they can talk to me if they need a friend!" Ruby
Wellbeing Award for Schools
We are delighted that we have been recognised for our commitment to wellbeing as a school and have received the Wellbeing Award for Schools (June 2023).
We had to provide a range of evidence for each of the eight objectives and present our findings to be validated. Support from parents and pupils was key in completing this award. A very positive accolade for us as a school and one that demonstrates the commitment we have for wellbeing from all stakeholders.
Wellbeing Award objectives
1. The school is committed to promoting and protecting positive emotional wellbeing and mental health by achieving the WAS.
2. The school has a clear vision and strategy for promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health, which is communicated to all involved with the school.
3. The school has a positive culture which regards emotional wellbeing and mental health as the responsibility for all.
4. The school actively promotes staff emotional wellbeing and mental health.
5. The school prioritises professional learning and staff development on emotional wellbeing and mental health.
6. The school understands the different types of emotional and mental health needs across the school and has systems in place to respond appropriately.
7. The school actively seeks the ongoing participation of the whole-school community in its approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
8. The school works in partnership with other schools, agencies and available specialist services to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Wellbeing Award article in HES magazine
In school provision
School Vision & Values
Together, children and teachers have developed some school values to promote the ethos of the school and ensure that everyone is sharing in our school vision of imagining, believing and achieving, while feeling safe and confident to do so.
Our School Values are:
Respect
Fairness & Compassion
Uniqueness
Team work & Exploration
Resilience
Creativity & Innovation
In the Classroom
We ensure that school rules are established early for the safety and well-being of everyone.
- "Good to be Green" behaviour system to celebrate positive behaviour and support children in regulating whether they are being the best versions of themselves.
- Teacher and Teaching Assistants work hard to build strong relationships with the children to ensure that children feel happy to share their concerns.
- Worry Boxes in which children can post their worries in the knowledge that a member of staff will always check in with them.
- PSHE curriculum
- Circle time
- Celebratory days (e.g Good to be Different Day) where children are encouraged to recognise and understand our differences.
On the Playground
All of our midday staff have received training around safeguarding and supporting effective play.
Some of our team have received specialist training to meet specific needs of children within our school, including administering emergency medication and autism awareness.
Zones of Regulation
We have introduced the 'Zones of Regulation' to the children. This approach helps children to recognise and understand their feelings. It teaches them, in a simple way, that all feelings are OK. We sometimes just need some help with strategies in knowing what to do with these feelings. This approach can be really helpful at home too.
Additional support
- Pastoral team observation
- Meeting with parent/carers
- EP consultation
- Inclusion consultation
- Pupil assessments
- CAMHS drop-in session - staff and/or parent
- Parent surgery
- School nurse
- Therapies - art club, use of rainbow room, positive book, in-school counselling, diary writing, lunchtime clubs
- Additional resources - workstation, visual timetable, checklists, fidget toy, weighted cushion
- Interventions/approaches - Comic strip conversations, social stories, Time to Talk group, Lego Therapy
- Signposting to LA and National agencies (see useful links as guidance)
Parent workshops
We led a parent workshop on the theme of anxiety this term, talking about what anxiety is, sharing our in school strategies and some ideas and resources to use at home.
Here are the videos that were shared:
External support
Parenting Smart
This site is designed for parents and carers of 4-11 year olds. The Parenting Smart site is completely free to use and access, full of tips and advice on a range of topics including transition to secondary school, meltdowns, and sleep difficulties. Visit our full site for the latest resources.
Useful links
Mental health
CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Havering)
You and Me counselling - Hornchurch based counselling and therapy service
Young Minds - support for parents and children.
Place2be - improving children's mental health
Havering Mind- support for depression and mental health needs
Mind - support for depression and mental health needs
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust- resources and advice to support mental health
Havering Directory - Emotional Well-being for Children and Young People
Bereavement
Winston's Wish - supporting children through bereavement
Hope again - helping young people after loss
Saint Francis Hospice (bereavement/critical illness support)
Other specialist services
Childline - Telephone - 0800 1111 - Support for children in need
NSPCC - Keeping children safe, including from online abuse