Mental Health
Mental health issues affect children and young people as well as adults, with more than 850,000 children and young people in the UK having been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Since September 2014, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) has also become a category of special educational needs. In line with the government guidance Mental Health and behaviour in schools, children with a SEMH need will receive support in school, and if necessary may begin a pathway plan.
At St Mark’s, we endeavour to promote positive mental health. We offer a community of wisdom and support, and will ensure that help our children to:
- build emotional resilience
- develop self-esteem
- develop confidence
- develop their social skills
- feel valued and a part of the school
We provide high levels of pastoral support and offer support in the form of one-to-one pastoral support, emotional literacy support (ELSA) groups, personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, and a relevant and realistic curriculum. We encourage children to talk about any issues that are worrying them, and train our staff to be mindful of children’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Any concerns are usually passed on to the class teacher but may be passed to our ELSA (Mrs Jenkins) or SENCo (Mrs Pattison) as appropriate to ensure children are properly supported in school.
We work in close partnership with outside agencies, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the SENSS Team (Local Authority) and Educational Psychologist to ensure the best outcomes for our children.
Resources
COVID
- COVID resilience children
- 8 ways to help children struggling during lockdown Page 1 Page 2
- What questions do you have about returning to school?
- Summary of my time away from school
- My positivity jar activity sheet
- What I am thinking but not saying spin wheel
- Let your worries go worksheet
- What positives have come from lockdown worksheet
- Returning to school bag challenge
- My ten minute journal
- I can statements worksheet
- Positive affirmations fortune teller
- I am an amazing person worksheet
- Structure and routine
- Support your child's wellbeing while schools are closed
- Online resources for managing mental health
- Types of self care
- Emergency care wall
- Self care and mental helath for kids
Anxiety
- 9 useful techniques for dealing with anxiety in children
- Anxiety support for primary children
- Worry tree
- Anxiety presents itslef in many different ways
- The stress relief giraffe
Managing Feelings
- How do you feel today?
- 10 things to say instead of "Stop crying"
- Comforting at a distance
- The emotion cup
- 5 point scale chart
- I can calm down prompt card
- Emotion game
- Mood monster cards
- Self esteem journal
Low Mood
Social Stories
- Friendships
- How to be a good friend
- It's ok to not know the answer
- Sometimes things change
- When I feel angry