Wellbeing

Our Vision

At Christ Church Primary and Nursery Academy, we aim to promote positive mental health and well-being for our whole school community; pupils, staff, parents and carers, supporting these parties in recognising how important mental health and emotional well-being is to our lives in just the same way as physical health. 

Why Mental Health and Well-Being is Important At our school?

We recognise that children’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can affect their learning and achievement. Persistent mental health problems may lead to pupils having significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of those of the same age. 

Why a whole-school or college approach

It’s well established that mental health and wellbeing influences children and young people’s cognitive development and learning, as well as their social and emotional health.   Children and young people struggling with mental health problems are unlikely to be able to learn effectively and are more likely to be absent from school or college so staff working in schools and colleges are ideally placed to recognise and respond to early signs of mental health problems in children and young people. 

A whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing are become best practice. 

They can improve attendance, attainment, reduce bullying, and can help identify difficulties sooner before problems escalate. 

Children and young people who are considered most at risk, (e.g., those with existing or emerging mental health difficulties, or additional needs) are most likely to benefit.  In 2020, the Anna Freud Centre surveyed more than 6,000 teachers about the types of policies and practices their schools had in place. It found that most teachers said their school had policies in place which referenced mental health, but only 12% of primary schools had a practical framework to support a whole-school approach to mental health.

Our role in school is to ensure that our children at Christ Church Primary and Nursery Academy are able to manage times of change and stress, be resilient, are supported to reach their God given potential and access help when they need it. As staff, we also have a role to ensure that pupils learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and where they can go if they need help and support. 

Our aim is to help develop the protective factors which build resilience to mental health problems and be a school where

 ∙ all pupils are valued 

∙ pupils have a sense of belonging and feel safe

 ∙ pupils feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma

 ∙ positive mental health is promoted and valued 

∙ bullying is not tolerated In addition to children’s well-being

In addition to children’s well-being, we recognise the importance of promoting staff mental health and well-being. 

We recognise that many behaviours and emotional problems can be supported within the school environment, or with advice from external professionals. Some children will need more intensive support at times, and there are a range of mental health professionals and organisations that provide support to pupils with mental health needs and their families. Support includes: 

• Inclusion Manager 
• Safeguarding/Child Protection Team 
• Support staff to manage mental health needs of pupils 
• SENCO who helps staff understand their responsibilities to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including pupils whose mental health problems mean they need special educational provision. 
• Family Support Keyworker & Therapeutic Coach
• School Councillor
• School nurse 
• CAMHS core meetings to support staff to manage mental health needs of pupils
• Mental Health First Aiders: Rebecca Leivesly, Kim Hart, Bettina Beetham, Fiona Worthington, Daniel Ball, Mrs Heywood, Miss Hopkins and Miss Borthwick.

Zones of Regulation

Zones of Regulation is an approach being introduced at Christ Church Primary and Nursery Academy to support the development of self-regulation in children. All the different ways children feel and the states of alertness they experience are categorised into four coloured zones. Children who are well regulated are able to be in the appropriate zone at the expected time.

Who can help me?

Where to get information and support 

For support on specific mental health needs 

Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk OCD UK www.ocduk.org 

Depression Alliance www.depressoinalliance.org 

Eating Disorders www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com 

National Self-Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk 

Self-Harm www.selfharm.co.uk 

Suicidal thoughts Prevention of young suicide UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org 

For general information and support 

www.youngminds.org.uk champions young people’s mental health and wellbeing 

www.mind.org.uk advice and support on mental health problems 

www.minded.org.uk (e-learning) 

www.time-to-change.org.uk tackles the stigma of mental health 

www.rethink.org challenges attitudes towards mental health

Behaviour

We are extremely proud of the excellent behaviour at our Church Academy.  Positive behaviour and good pupil mental health and emotional wellbeing are essential to creating the right environment for successful teaching and learning in our caring school community.  All pupils have the right to learn and staff have the right to teach in an environment which is safe, friendly, purposeful, peaceful and fair – encompassing our core Christian values.

We believe that school has a central role in the children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development - just as it does in their academic development.  We believe that everyone has a right to be valued and treated with respect at all times.

We strive to best educate every one of our children and also to develop the life-long learning skills, social skills, independence and resilience needed to achieve their full potential.

Positive behaviour is carefully developed and supported in our school – and building appropriate high self-esteem helps promote good behaviour, positive attitudes, wellbeing, effective learning, positive relationships and successful happy children.

‘Pupils behave well. They listen to what their teachers have to say and respond to their instructions. Pupils who have emotional needs value the support of the ‘Hub’. This is because it provides a safe place for them to be calm and get ready for learning.’  

-Ofsted March 2020

‘Pupils behaviour in lessons is positive and focused. Pupils are keen to learn and are interested in their lessons.’  

-Ofsted March 2020

‘Pupils feel safe in school. They say that this is because it is a place where people of different backgrounds ‘work together, get along together and help each other. No one is left out.’

-Ofsted March 2020