Mental Health and Wellbeing

We believe that happy, healthy students learn best. This section is here to support students, parents/carers and staff, with resources, contacts and practical tips for wellbeing.

At St Peter’s CE Academy, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils, their families and our 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.

At our school we aim to:

• help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
• help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
• encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
• help children to be persistent even when faced with challenges
• help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
• help children to develop a Growth Mindset

Recommended books that support emotional literacy:

1. “The Colour Monster” by Anna Llenas – A beautifully illustrated story about a monster learning to sort out feelings by colour.

2. “Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival – Ruby discovers a worry that grows until she learns talking about it helps.

3. “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud – Teaches children that kindness to others also fills their own “emotional bucket.”

MHST

At St Peter’s we are lucky to have access to Sarah – our Mental Health Support Team Worker.

Mental Health Support Team – North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust

Hi! My name is Sarah and I am apart of the Mental Health Support Team working within St Peter’s Academy, Alton.

 My job is to support the school’s whole school approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing as well as work with pupils who may need support with such things as anxiety, low mood, sleep or problem solving. I can work with children on a 1:1 basis, in groups or even a whole class. Working with a child’s difficulties 1:1 would mean doing sessions with their parent or carer as evidence tells us that this most effective way to support difficulties for children under 11. I’m also here to help their parents feel confident in supporting their child’s mental health.

Sarah is currently running ‘Drawing and Talking’ groups within school.

Drawing and Talking is a creativity-based intervention that can help children feel better when they are sad, worried or confused. Sometimes it’s hard for children to say how they feel with words. Drawing can help them show their feelings and talking about their pictures with other children along with a trained practitioner, can help them understand and feel better about what’s inside while showing them that other children feel the same way too.

If you have any questions for Sarah or would like to arrange to meet with her please get in touch with the school office.

Relax Kids

We always work to support children’s mental and physical wellbeing. Each half term, the children have the opportunity to work with Claire from Relax Kids, completing mindfulness activities. We have had a mindfulness week during which children completed activities including yoga, making a happy jar,  thank you cards and breathing wands. They spent time considering the positive aspects of their daily life.  The children have taken part in a good sleep hygiene and relaxation workshop. These activities have contributed towards a mindfulness and wellbeing badge.

The whole school have been working towards Wellbeing badges recognising a range of mental health and wellbeing activates offered during the term.