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Mental Health & Wellbeing

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 click on the link:
 https://www.orchardprimary.org/policy/mental-health-wellbeing-policy

 

At our school, we promote a mentally healthy environment through:

  • Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
  • Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making
  • Celebrating academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem
  • Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
  • Providing opportunities to reflect
  • Access to appropriate support that meets their needs
  • Helping children to understand their emotions and feelings better and to feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
  • Helping children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks

 

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 if the strategies used t Orchard to support pupils' mental health and wellbeing:
 Orchard Mental Health Strategies.pdf

Please click on the link below to view some if the strategies used t Orchard to support pupils' mental health and wellbeing:
 Orchard Primary School Mental Health Action Plan 2024-25.pdf

 

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:

  • Go to your GP as a first port of call as they are a useful place to gain medical support and signposting of local services, or speak to a School Nurse. Referrals for the School Nurse service can be made both through your GP and through school.  https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/leicestershire/school-nurses/. Our School Nursing Team’s details are: North West Leicestershire Public Health (School) Nurse Team, Coalville Health Centre. Tel: 0116 215 3250
  • Talk to your child’s class teacher or teaching assistant about your child's needs or your concerns.
  • Talk to the school’s SENDCOs (Mrs H Caldwell and Miss Farrar) or Designated Mental Health and Wellbeing lead (Mrs Shields).
  • The Education Psychology Service has a helpline for parents available daily 9 – 11.30. Tel: 0116 305 5100.
  • Young Minds - The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional well-being, or mental health condition. You may have a child who's already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them. Call 0808 802 5544 or visit the website.
  • Early Help – children and family well-being service. Parents can make a referral for support from a Well-being Practitioner via the Leicestershire County Council website                              https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/.../report-abuse-or-neglect-of-a-child. Don’t be put off by the page title relating to abuse and neglect – safeguarding encompasses a lot more than just child protection.

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.

  • Low mood                                                       
  • Worry
  • Generalized anxiety & social anxiety
  • Panic
  • Sleep problems due to anxiety/low-mood
  • Simple phobias (excluding blood, needles and vomit)
  • Stress management

For information and resources re: understanding and improving mental health and well-being, contact MIND. Tel: 0300 123 3393    https://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

 https://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.pdf.

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."

 

tmh-parent-leaflet-final-web-updated-by-ed-april-2020.pdf (annafreud.org)

 

Dealing with anxiety -  https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

Young minds parents’ survival guide -  https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families -  https://www.annafreud.org/parents/

 https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

Useful Booklets/Publications:

 Public Health England How Healthy Behaviour Supports Children's Wellbeing
 Mental Health Parent Leaflet Anna Freud Centre
 Wellbeing Booklist
 The Anxious Child Booklet for Parents
 Worry Doll Instructions
 You need to know guide for parents
 10 key areas to happier living poster
 Relaxation tips for bedtime
 Sleep and Diet Parent Leaflet
 Bedtime routine for Parents
 Mindfulness Booklet A brief guide
 Bereavement Resources
 Schools Information Pack - Bereavement

Young Minds Publications offers information on a variety of mental health issues from school problems to mental illness in families. https://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: 
 https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/

 https://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.pdf

Anxiety thermometer:  Anxiety Thermometer.pdf

Mindfulness calendar:  Mindfulness Calendar Daily 5 Minute Activities.pdf

Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety - Knowing the symptoms, how to talk to and support your child with anxiety:  https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

 https://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)

 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (leicspart.nhs.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.

 Coronavirus Bereavement – an NHS guide for Parents & Carers
 Coronavirus Bereavement – an NHS guide for teenagers
 Coronavirus Bereavement – an NHS guide for adults
 Grief Support
 NHS bereavement support
 Winston’s Wish

Books to support Bereavement:

  • Dogger – gentle intro to discussion for very young children
  • Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (particularly useful if an older person has died).
  • Michael Rosen’s Sad Book
  • Tattybogle by Sandra Ann Horn
  • Muddles, Puddles & Sunshine by Winstons Wish – is an activity book.
  • Vicky Angel by Jaqueline Wilson (a friend’s death,  for older children)

 

Wellbeing Newsletters:
 Wellbeing Newsletter Spring Term A  2022.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Spring Term B  2022.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Summer Term A  2022.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Autumn Term A 2022.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Autumn Term B 2022.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Spring Term 2023.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Summer Term 2023.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Autumn Term A 2023.pdf
 Wellbeing Newsletter Autumn Term B 2023.pdf