Learning & Development
Mental Health and Wellbeing
At Base Academy, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our whole school community including pupils, staff and parents/carers is at the heart of what we do. We have agreed that wellbeing is a state of being comfortable, healthy and happy. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. Everyone has a role to play in promoting positive health and wellbeing across school. Children, staff and parent/carers are encouraged to talk about their feelings and to ask for help when they need it.
In line with our mission statement,, we strive to provide the children with a happy place to learn, but also look for ways that we can develop our children into life-long happy and healthy adults. We use the Lancashire Scheme for Learning, supplemented with the SEALs programme to help the children develop life skills and their awareness of mental health, sex and relationships and physical wellbeing. We use a wide variety of outside agencies to help support the delivery of our curriculum as and where it is appropriate.
Please see our policy below for more information:
During the Autumn Term 2019, we began our journey towards the Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS).
The aim of the award is to ensure schools promote emotional wellbeing and positive mental health across the whole-school community. Mrs Cromey is the award co-ordinator and other members of the teaching/ non teaching staff and governors form part of the Wellbeing “Change” team.
In January 2020, we sent out baseline questionnaires to staff, parents and children. We then used the results to write our action plan. We aim to complete this award by early 2021.
There are eight objectives which we have to evidence to gain the award:
- The school is committed to promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health by achieving the Wellbeing Award for Schools.
- The school has a clear vision and strategy for promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health, which is communicated to all involved with the school.
- The school has a positive culture which regards emotional wellbeing and mental health as the responsibility of all.
- The school actively promotes staff emotional wellbeing and mental health.
- The school prioritises professional learning and staff development on emotional wellbeing and mental health.
- The school understands the different types of emotional and mental health needs across the school and has systems in place to respond appropriately.
- The school actively seeks the ongoing participation of the whole-school community in its approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
- The school works in partnerships with other schools, agencies and available specialist services to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
For more information on the award, please visit the website here.
As a school, we are keen to support and help look after the mental health of parents/carers. We have carried out a number of activities this year to promote wellbeing and we have more planned for the next academic year:
- Mrs Whittaker, Mrs Driver, Mr Hudson and Mrs Thompson are trained Mental Health First Aiders. This means they have been trained to have an in depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing. Please speak to one of them if you are concerned about your mental health as they will be able to guide you to further support.
Planned Activities:
- During Parents’ Evening in Summer 2020, information leaflets containing information on various mental health conditions will be available.
- Wellbeing Champions – We are looking to have dedicated parents who act as Wellbeing Champions. They will have important role in school and are helping to reduce the stigma around mental health. Please speak to Mrs Cromey if you are interested in becoming a Wellbeing Champion.
- In Summer 2020 we hope to host our first wellbeing coffee morning. The aim is to provide other parents and carers with the opportunity to meet new people and to discuss ways we can look after our wellbeing. We have more coffee mornings planned next year.
- Using our dedicated Hub, we plan to host a series of parent workshops- watch out for information on these as they are announced.
We are keen to ensure emotional wellbeing remains high profile in our school and we are working towards reducing the stigma around mental health. The children take part in a number of activities to help promote good wellbeing and mental health including:
SEALs weeks - We deliver the SEALs programme across school which aims to develop the underpinning qualities and skills that help promote positive behaviour and effective learning. It focuses on five social and emotional aspects of learning: self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and social skills.
The materials help children develop skills such as understanding another’s point of view, working in a group, sticking at things when they get difficult, resolving conflict and managing worries. They build on effective work already in place in the many primary schools who pay systematic attention to the social and emotional aspects of learning through whole-school ethos, initiatives such as circle time or buddy schemes, and the taught personal, social and health education (PSHE) and Citizenship curriculum.
The materials are organised into seven themes: New Beginnings, Getting on and falling out, Say no to bullying, Going for goals!, Good to be me, Relationships and Changes.
- Each class from Reception to Year 6 chooses two Red Lane Stars of the Week. The aim is to recognise positive choices and enable children to accept positive feedback.
- Peer Mentors spend time on both the KS1 and KS2 playground at lunchtime to encourage children to play together nicely and to talk to children who are feeling sad or lonely.
- We have a counsellor in school who delivers 1:1 sessions as and when appropriate.
- We have a reflexologist in school who delivers 1:1 and small group sessions as and when needed.
- We have two experienced staff memebers who are trained ELSAs. Their role is centred around the prevention, early intervention and recovery of mental health issues.
- Group sessions are regularly run in the Hub to help children manage their feelings.
- We have theme weeks such as ‘Mental Health week’ and “Healthy Living Week” which are built into a annual calendar of events. During these weeks, outside agencies are invited into school to enhance our provision.
- Assemblies are regularly linked to mental health and wellbeing.
- Year 5 take part in the Healthy Relationship programme provided by Fort Alice which is “an early intervention educational programme aimed at Years 5 and 6 children, offering a minimum of four one hour teaching sessions which are mapped to the SEALS and RSE curriculum guidance. Each session incorporates a diverse range of interactive activities using resources specifically developed to ensure learner engagement through the use of games, discussions, video and role play” Specialist Children’s Workers with expertise in Domestic Abuse deliver the programme, which has a scheme of work and individual lesson plans.