Orchard Primary School is proud to have been awarded 'Route to Resilience' accreditation for our commitment to wellbeing in school.
At Orchard 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 see our policy page.
At our school, we promote a mentally healthy environment through:
We 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.
Lead staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: Mrs Hayley Caldwell (SENDCO), Mrs Shields (Headteacher) and Mr Patching (Deputy Headteacher and Character Education Lead). Miss Farrar (Deputy SENDCO) and Mrs Fairbrother (ELSA – Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).
Please click on the link below to view some of the strategies used at Orchard to support pupils' mental health and wellbeing:
Orchard Mental Health Strategies
Please click on the link below to view some of the strategies used at Orchard to support pupils' mental health and wellbeing:
Orchard Primary School Mental Health Action Plan 2024-25
Orchard's Mental Health Support Teams
We have a Senior Mental Health and Well Being Lead in school that is responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Mrs Shields). We have a designated trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Miss Hull, who leads ELSA sessions and nurture groups for pupils, such as ‘time to talk’ social skills work, resilience skills, 'it’s good to be me' group sessions and 1:1 check ins in liaison with our SENDCos, Mrs Caldwell and Miss Farrar.
What do I do if I am worried about my child's mental health or wellbeing?
You can:
Refer to Early Help using the ‘Request for Services’ form via the green box at the bottom of the page or call the Children and Family Well-being Service on 0116 305 8727 for more information.
The Early Help team can provide help through groups such as Bounce Back (for children aged 8-13 children who are worried/anxious – low-level concerns) and through cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) interventions in order to help children manage and understand their anxiety. There is also a Parental Mental Health - group support for parents who have increasing anxieties around emotional, health and well-being.
Early Help Well-being Practitioners have been trained as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative. Well-being Practitioners are able to offer CBT based interventions to support children and young people experiencing common mental health difficulties.
Wellbeing Practitioners can work with children and young people (CYP) experiencing any of the following.
For information and resources re: understanding and improving mental health and well-being, contact MIND. Tel: 0300 123 3393 www.mind.org.uk/
NHS Resources
Here are a few simple ways you can encourage your child to express themselves. Could you build on existing interests or passions? Think about what has helped them get through the past year. A love of dancing? Baking? Drawing? Fashion? Encourage your child by
www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/- A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.
NHS Berkshire West and East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have relaunched the mental health booklet – the Little Blue Book of Sunshine: Little Blue Book of Sunshine 2020
The book offers lots of practical and useful advice and aims to help children and young people by sharing tips on how to deal with problems, such as anxiety, stress, relationships and anger. It also includes information about where to get help when they need it.
Useful links
Some useful resources that you could use at home to support your child’s mental health are below:
Advice for parents and carers: talking mental health with young people at primary school
This leaflet which was created alongside the Talking Mental Health Animation & Toolkit, features an introduction from our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge who supported the You're never too young to talk mental health campaign stating the campaign's resources 'demonstrate how we can help children express their feelings, respond appropriately, and prevent small problems from snowballing into bigger ones.' Anna Freud - Parent leafet
Young minds parents’ survival guide - youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families - www.annafreud.org/parents/
www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/
Useful Booklets/Publications:
Public Health England How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children's Wellbeing
The Anxious Child Booklet for Parents
Worry Doll Instructions
10 key areas to happier living poster
Mindfulness Booklet A brief guide
Bereavement Resources
Young Minds Publications offers information on a variety of mental health issues from school problems to mental illness in families. youngminds.org.uk/shop/publications/
Young Minds Parents Guide To Support A-Z gives you advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and life events which might be negatively affecting their wellbeing. They also show you where you can get help:
youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/
www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/- Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Feelings tracker: Tracking My Feelings
Anxiety thermometer: Anxiety Thermometer
Mindfulness calendar: Mindfulness Calendar Daily 5 Minute Activities
Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety - Knowing the symptoms, how to talk to and support your child with anxiety: tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety
www.healthforkids.co.uk/grownups/healthy-minds/
Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and mental health, so that they can be listened to, are happy together and ready to learn is vitally important to us. Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
CAMHS
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.
For more information, visit the website below:
Guide to CAMHS (youngminds.org.uk)
CAMHS also have some excellent resources for parents:
DOWNLOADS | CAMHS Resources (camhs-resources.co.uk)
Bereavement
If you have suffered a bereavement and feel that school can support, please do contact us.
Grief Support
NHS bereavement support
Winston’s Wish
Books to support Bereavement:
Wellbeing Newsletters:
Wellbeing Newsletter Autumn Term 2024
Wellbeing Newsletter Summer Term 2024
