Children’s Mental Health Week 2021
This week as a school we have celebrated Children’s Mental Health Week 2021. We come together as a school each year to celebrate this very worthy cause but this year our celebrations looked a little different due to the nationwide lockdown. As a result, we celebrated at home and in school for those children of critical workers, by dressing up to express our own unique personalities. We wore bright clothes, fancy dress, wigs and gemstones to show our true selves and we loved every minute.
We were thrilled to see our children expressing themselves through dance, art, music and one of our children even raised a phenomenal amount for the Place 2 Be charity by walking 15 miles dressed in various fabulous outfits!
At this time, more than ever it is vitally important to look after our children’s mental health. They are living through unprecedented times and coping so well, showing us all that they really are superstars!
For more information, use the links below:
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Vision Statement
The emotional health and wellbeing of all members of St James Daisy Hill CE Primary School (including staff, children, governors and parents) is fundamental to our philosophy and ethos of
‘working together to achieve excellence within a caring Christian community of faith, hope and love.’
‘One in ten children and young people aged 5 to 16 have a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder and around one in seven has less severe problems.’
‘Poor mental health undermines educational attainment. Surveys suggest that disproportionately large numbers of pupils with conduct and emotional disorders fall behind in their overall educational attainment, missing school and/or being excluded.’
Promoting positive emotional health and wellbeing:
The culture at St James Daisy Hill CE Primary School promotes children’s positive emotional health and wellbeing and avoids stigma by:
- Having a whole-school approach to promoting positive emotional health and wellbeing within an ethos of high expectations and consistent support.
- Having a committed staff community that sets a whole school culture of positive emotional health and wellbeing, support and value.
- Developing a robust regime of continuing professional development (CPD) for staff.
- Having a pupil group of Wellbeing Champions to ensure that our school takes into account the views of our pupils to inform how we approach the promotion of emotional health and wellbeing.
- Working closely with pupils, parents and carers to encourage them to talk openly about their own and others emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Teach Well School Gold Coronavirus Pandemic Award
We are delighted to announce that St James has been awarded the 'Teach Well School Gold Coronavirus Pandemic Award' from the Teach Well Alliance in recognition of the exceptional efforts and support that the school has provided to look after the physical and mental wellbeing of staff during Covid-19.
It also reflects the staffs support and encouragement of each other, as well as all of the children and their parents and carers, during this exceptionally difficult and challenging time.
Use the links below to find out more about Emotional Health & Wellbeing.
The Mental Health Foundation provides lots of information, articles and blogs about all aspects of mental health of both children and adults.
Parent Info provides high quality information to parents and carers about their children’s wellbeing and resilience.
Educate Against Hate gives parents practical advice on protecting children from extremism, radicalisation and hate.
Time To Change is an organisation that aims to reduce the stigma attached to mental health conditions. They say It’s hard enough to experience mental health problems, without having to face the judgement, shame and isolation that often surrounds them. That’s why we want to end mental health discrimination.
Young Minds provide a wealth of information and resources for young people on issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
The NSPCC provides information on how to talk to your child about the risks of sending inappropriate text messages and what you can do to protect them.
Children and young people face many challenges. This website contains lots of useful information to help keep children safe.
CAMHS is used as a term for all services that work with children and young people who have difficulties with their emotional or behavioural wellbeing.
Local areas have a number of different support services available.
