Mental Health and Wellbeing
Whole school staff training has also been delivered by the Virtual School on the subject of Attachment and Trauma needs and how to best support pupils with such needs.
Here at Reculver C.E.Primary School we recognise that children occasionally face social and emotional challenges which can impact negatively on their learning; for these more vulnerable pupils our involvement might need to be intensified, and to this purpose we run nurture, self- esteem and social skills groups .
The teaching staff and the Senior Leadership Team have completed a course run by the Family Links Charity to enable the whole school to be recognised as a Nurture School.
The nurture groups at Reculver are modelled on the key principles of nurture as identified by The Nurture Group Network. We recognise that;
- Children's learning is understood developmentally
- The classroom offers a safe base
- Nurture is important for the development of self-esteem
- Language is understood as a vital means of communication
- All behaviour is communication
- Transitions are significant in the lives of children
These six principles provide a framework from which we operate to offer a more intensive level of attention for our more vulnerable or anxious pupils. We work closely with the attendance officer as well as teachers and outside agencies to offer a comprehensive package of support allowing children the opportunity to share their worries or concerns with a trained member of staff (the Director of Mental Health and Wellbeing) who can gently support them.
Every child is very much an individual and their needs are assessed as such. We welcome any pupil in need, and endeavour to maintain supportive working relationships with parents and carers.
The Wellbeing Manager also makes referrals to Early Help, liaising with support organisations and Social Services to bring a wider range of support to pupil’s families when necessary. She is the link to the NHS Emotional Wellbeing team who offer support for families at the school. The Wellbeing Manager is also one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) in the school.
The school actively promotes skills and activities to meet social and emotional needs. There is provision of social skills groups during the course of the day and at lunchtimes adults lead specific Opal Play Zones. “Circles of Friends” and buddies are also used to facilitate social development and happy play times.
Forest School
A “Forest School” is also run with nurture and the promotion of appropriate Social / friendship Skills as one of the key areas of focus.
All staff provide pastoral care in the form of providing a listening ear and emotional support. All staff receive regular Safeguarding training and clear policies and procedures are in place for them to follow.
Our School Counsellor
The School Counsellor works with pupils on an individual and group basis with the aim of raising their self-esteem and feelings of wellbeing. The School Counsellor, Paul Grainger, works closely with the rest of the staff at Reculver who all have a responsibility for the wellbeing of pupils.
Mr Grainger is a qualified Child Counsellor and holds an Advanced Diploma in Counselling, a Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents, A Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and is a member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). His email address is: paul.grainger@reculver.kent.sch.uk He is happy to answer any queries you may have about the wellbeing of pupils in the school.
Our Wellbeing Manager
Mia Fisher, Wellbeing Manager, makes referrals to Early Help and liaises with support organisations and Social Services as part of her role as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) so that she can facilitate a wider range of support for pupils and their families when needed.
Miss Fisher is also the link between the school and the NHS Emotional Wellbeing Teams support service for families and staff at the school.
ELSA
There are also 7 trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistants within the wider Wellbeing Team.
Mental Health and wellbeing are a very important part of our work here at Reculver CEP School and we have provided parents and visitors to our website with a range of resources and information to support healthy wellbeing. Please take time to look at these as there are lots of helplines and a great deal of advice to support families.
Wellbeing Award
The Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS) has been developed in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and is intended to help schools prepare and equip themselves to promote emotional wellbeing and positive mental health across the whole school community. Evidence shows that wellbeing is of central importance to learning and attainment. NCB advocates the use of a ‘whole-school approach’ where all aspects of the school experience are harnessed to promote the emotional wellbeing and mental health of pupils and staff. It is an approach where emotional wellbeing and mental health is ‘everybody’s business’. At Reculver CE Primary School, we pride ourselves on supporting all members of our community with their emotional wellbeing and mental health and the Wellbeing Award for Schools is a welcome opportunity to recognise the exceptional work that schools do in this area. The key features of a whole-school approach form the basis of the award, and it provides our school with a benchmark of best practice against which to test itself.
Support from The Emotional Wellbeing Team
ewt kent primary school leaflet digital.pdf
Request for EWT support form:
request for support form primary new 1 .pdf
CAMHS Resources
This site was created for young people, carers and professionals to pool together lots of helpful resources from across the internet that are available to help support your mental health and well-being. I hope that you find it helpful.
Click HERE.
