Pastoral Support
At St Peter's Primary school, we are committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to all children, their families and members of staff and governors. Our open culture allows children's voices to be heard, and through the use of effective policies and procedures we ensure a safe and supportive environment for all affected - both directly and indirectly - by mental health issues.
Children and young people (CYP) experience a range of emotions, feelings or moods every day. Some of these experiences can feel distressing to the CYP and their families. However, it usually falls within the range of what we could expect within our emotional development.
Everyone has mental health in the same way that they have physical health. Our mental health is part of our wellbeing. Mental ill health is common. When we need support with our emotional wellbeing and mental health, it's about getting the right support at the right time. This is because the latest research tells us that mental ill health affects about 1 in 4 children and young people. This may present as a range of behaviours from exam stress and low mood to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. These also may or may not be a clinically diagnosed conditions and are often in response to an individual's life experiences.
The Mental Health Foundation says: “The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health." Good emotional and mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope better. This means they grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.
Meet the Team:
At St Peter's we have a strong pastoral team. Their goal is the ensure that all children are supported in their mental health, encouraged to show resilience and understand that they are important.
Sarah Hancock is our pastoral lead, she works closely alongside Jane Halls (our Home school liaison officer) and a team of fully trained emotional responders (LSAs from within the school).
All staff within the school are encouraged to notice changes in children's behaviour that may indicate that a child is struggling with their emotional wellbeing. The pastoral team work closely with class teams to regularly monitor and evaluate these concerns. If we feel a child may benefit from some directed emotional support then a member of the pastoral team (or the child's class teacher) will contact the family and talk through the various interventions and strategies that we can offer.
Some of these include:
- Drawing and Talking
- Check-in times with familiar staff
- Self-esteem groups
- Groups around specific emotions (anger, worries, friendships)
- Bespoke sessions with Jane (our highly experienced team member).
- Individual schemes: e.g. Bubblegum guy, the anxiety gremlin and CBT toolbox (and many more)
Once your child is receiving pastoral support, they will be carefully monitored and if your concerns and their behaviours escalate then we will work with families to organise and refer for more specialised mental health services e.g. Kids Inspire, CAMHS, community paediatricians
What to do if you are worried about your child's wellbeing/ mental health...
We are an incredibly open and supportive school. If you have any worries or concerns about your child then please speak to your child's class teacher. It may be that your child's teacher recommends that the pastoral team contacts you to talk through your concerns.
Or, you can contact our pastoral team directly through email pastoral@st-peters.essex.sch.uk or through speaking to the school office.
Please find below useful website links, information and resources for you to explore regarding children's wellbeing and mental health.
Anxiety Workshop:
In December 2022, we held an anxiety workshop for parents. Please see a copy of the Powerpoint below for further information if you missed this.
A copy of the Powerpoint and 'Detective Thinking' handout can also be downloaded by clicking on the following links:
Urgent Mental Health Support...
Is it an emergency?
A mental health 'crisis' often means that a child / young person (CYP) may no longer feel able to cope or be in control of their immediate situation. This might present as great emotional distress or anxiety. The CYP may be struggling with feelings such as helplessness, hopelessness and despair during this time. They may be thinking about suicide or have actively planned/attempted to complete suicide. Other presentations may include injury and/or experiencing hallucinations and hearing voices. A crisis can also be the result of an underlying medical condition. This could be confusion or delusions caused by an infection, overdose, illicit drugs or intoxication with alcohol.
Need Urgent Advice?
NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages.
You can call for:
- 24-hour advice and support – for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for
- Help to speak to a mental health professional
- An assessment to help decide on the best course of care
To find your local NHS urgent mental health helpline please use the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline
Additional support numbers:
- Call 999 if someone's life is at risk or you do not feels that you can keep yourself or someone else safe
-
Samaritans: Call 116 123 (all age)
-
Childline: 0800 1111 (18 and under)
- Call NHS 111 or NHS 111 online: This NHS service is available 24 hours a day
- Call Essex Effective Support for Children and Families for Child Protection and Safeguarding concerns. Family Operations Hub consultation line: 0345 603 7627, out of hours emergency duty service: 0345 606 1212
- Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service (EWMHS) Crisis number - call and ask to be put through to the mental health crisis team: For Adults - Crisis Team at EPUT (for Adults) For Children and Young People - 0300 555 1201
