Mental Health

Supporting Positive Mental Health at Selborne Primary School

At Selborne Primary School, we believe that positive mental health and emotional wellbeing are fundamental to children thriving both academically and personally. We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child, family and member of staff feels valued, listened to and supported.

We understand that good mental health enables children to develop confidence, build positive relationships, overcome challenges and enjoy learning. Our whole-school approach promotes resilience, encourages open conversations about wellbeing and ensures that support is available whenever it is needed.

Our Whole-School Approach

Mental health and wellbeing are embedded throughout school life rather than being taught as a separate subject. We promote emotional wellbeing through:

• A caring and inclusive school culture where every child feels safe, respected and valued.

• High-quality PSHE lessons, including Relationships and Growing Up (RAGU), helping pupils develop emotional literacy, healthy relationships and strategies for looking after their wellbeing.

• Opportunities to build confidence, resilience and independence through Forest School, educational visits, residential experiences, leadership opportunities such as school council and enrichment activities.

• Daily experiences that encourage children to develop empathy, kindness, self-awareness and positive relationships.

• Staff who are trained to recognise early signs of emotional difficulties and provide timely support.

We believe that developing resilience helps children manage life's challenges and equips them with the confidence to cope with change, setbacks and new experiences.

Supporting Children

Children experience a wide range of emotions as they grow, and sometimes they may need additional support.

Our experienced staff work closely together to identify concerns at an early stage and provide appropriate support. Where needed, reasonable adjustments may be made to help children access learning successfully, including:

• Short movement or wellbeing breaks

• Individual pastoral support

• Adapted classroom strategies

• Emotional regulation resources

• Personalised behaviour support

Every child is encouraged to identify trusted adults within school who they can speak to if they are worried or upset.

Working Together with Families

We know that children achieve the best outcomes when schools and families work together.

We value strong partnerships with parents and carers and maintain regular communication through meetings, newsletters, workshops and school events. We encourage families to speak to us if they have any concerns about their child's emotional wellbeing so that we can work together to provide the right support.

Specialist Support

Where additional support is required, we work closely with a range of professionals and services, including:

• Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

• Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

• Educational and Clinical Psychologists

• School Nursing Service

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

• Early Help and other Local Authority services

Working collaboratively allows us to provide coordinated support that meets each child's individual needs.

Staff Wellbeing

Supporting the wellbeing of our staff is equally important. We recognise that a mentally healthy school starts with mentally healthy adults.

Our staff receive regular professional development in mental health awareness, safeguarding and emotional wellbeing, enabling them to confidently support pupils whilst also looking after their own wellbeing. We promote an open, supportive culture where staff feel valued and encouraged to seek support when needed.

Creating a Positive School Community

At Selborne Primary School, we aim to:

• Promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for everyone in our school community.

• Develop children's resilience and confidence.

• Encourage kindness, empathy and respect.

• Remove the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open conversations.

• Identify concerns early and provide appropriate support.

• Work in partnership with families and external professionals to ensure children receive the help they need.

We believe that every child deserves to feel happy, safe and able to flourish. By working together, we can ensure that all members of our school community are supported to achieve their full potential.

For further information about our approach, please read our Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy.

Mental Health

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