Mental Health & Well-being
Wellbeing at Zouch
At Zouch our ethos for wellbeing is paramount and sits within our inner curriculum. We encourage parents to speak to us if they have any concerns relating to their child’s well-being.
We are extremely proud of the strong pastoral provision in school and we can support individual children effectively with the most appropriate and bespoke support for them. Staff across the school engage with children using the Thrive Approach. We are also a Trauma Aware School, most of our staff have received specific training on trauma and (ACES) adverse childhood experiences. Zouch has been fortunate enough to work with the CAMHS Team to further support children. In addition to this, we provide ELSA support (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), FSW support (Family Support Worker), Inclusion Manager who is focused on pupils with SEND and who facilitates children accessing our two children’s counsellors Charlie and Jane. Charlie and Jane are both highly experienced at supporting children’s mental health and well-being. This structured pastoral team ensures our children are extremely supported and well-regulated allowing them to access a positive learning experience.
Every child at Zouch has the opportunity to share how they are feeling from the moment they enter the classroom. We have used the Colour Monsters throughout the school as a tool for children to check in, so their adults are aware of how they are feeling from the start of the school day. Adults will confidentially check in with any children who may not be feeling themselves.
The children benefit from regular whole class wellbeing sessions where we use a mix of approaches including chair yoga, meditation, mindfulness, guided relaxation, therapeutic stories, problem solving, exploring feelings and emotions.
At the core of each of these approaches is the importance of giving children an emotional vocabulary, the time and space to listen and reflect on how they feel and a set of tools to help them move to a more positive set of feelings when sadness, frustration, anger, loneliness, grief are experienced.
Other Ways we Promote Health and Wellbeing in School include:
a positive school culture with caring and dedicated staff
a school ethos inspired by our 12 core values Respect, Friendship, Honesty, Responsibility, Patience, Happiness, Trust, Courage, Caring, Understanding,
Thoughtfulness and Appreciation has children’s social and emotional well-being at the heart of them
a Designated Senior Mental Health Lead, Mrs Johnson
a Designated member of staff, Mrs Pelling (Family Support Worker) to liaise with families to provide the support available to help to meet the child’s needs or signpost them to somebody who may be able to help
our Principal, Mrs Johnson is the Wellbeing Lead for the staff
we have two mental health first aiders Michelle Pelling & Julie Turley-Smith
a wellbeing room (Mrs Clark) - The ELSA Room (in KS2)
a sensory room - The Sensory Room (in KS1)
two specially-trained THRIVE practitioners who deliver 1:1 emotional literacy support
whole school assembly themes to promote and support SEMH;
circle time sessions in all year groups, especially in PSHE lessons
marking World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in school;
a comprehensive range of health and sporting activities across the curriculum and in after-school clubs
a behaviour policy that employs a restorative approach and a reward system that encourages children to embody our school values
Useful Links:
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
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Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading
Sources of support:
Mental Health Crisis Team: 0300 500 0927
CALM Helpline: 0800 585 858
Young Minds Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544
Hopeline UK: 0800 068 4141
What we expect from our pupils by the time they finish Y6 at Zouch:
Have our school values embedded and the children use these values authentically in all aspects of their lives
Children will have academically, socially, morally flourished to reach their full potential
Have a secure understanding of how to keep themselves mentally, emotionally and physically healthy
They will have an ignited curiosity for learning and be ready to take risks and embrace secondary school
Be visionary and confident and have high expectations of what they will achieve
The children will be inspired by the positive experiences they have had at Zouch
They will be lifelong learners, equipped with lots of skills and understanding which they can apply in their future life
Children will have an excellent understanding of what healthy and positive relationships look like
Along with being caring, honest, respectful and thoughtful individuals who ask questions and have empathy
Stretches and challenges themselves
Children who are resilient and have the belief in their self and their abilities
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