‘A therapeutic, safe learning environment, where the holistic development of every individual is nurtured to protect and support emotional wellbeing and mental health’
I am thrilled that as a school we are now working towards achieving a nationally accredited award in Wellbeing. This I hope will give us the recognition as a school we deserve.
As a conscientious staff team, work-based performance has a major impact on how we feel about ourselves which in turn has a major impact on the pupils we support. Therefore, it is key that all colleagues are valued, and their mental health is supported at all times. This new award will give us the framework to ensure we do this to an outstanding level for all pupils and staff.
Belinda Young, Headteacher
We are excited to let you know The First Edition of the Wellbeing Newsletter is available here
The Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS)
We have exciting news! Parkside House School, as you will already know, is working towards achieving the Wellbeing Award for Schools.
‘The award is developed in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), the Wellbeing Award for Schools is intended to help schools prepare and equip themselves to promote emotional wellbeing and positive mental health across the whole-school community.”
Gaining the award is formal recognition that our school has met very high standards of provision for emotional wellbeing and mental health. We are committed to strengthening a whole-school community that prioritises promoting a culture of positive emotional wellbeing and mental health.
The award process:
The award is built on a vigorous framework of eight objectives which embody best practice. Each of these objectives contain a number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), against which we will provide evidence of our achievements, shown below:
- The school is committed to promoting and protecting positive 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 whole-school community 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.
With this award, we will be demonstrating our commitment to:
- Promoting positive mental health throughout the school curriculum
- Improving the emotional wellbeing of our pupils, staff, and the wider school community
- Ensuring mental health needs are identified early and appropriate support is provided.
- Offering provision and interventions to match the needs of our pupils, staff, and the wider school community.
- Challenging the stigma surrounding mental health and increase awareness.
What is mental health and emotional wellbeing?
Mental health refers to a person’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It encompasses how individuals think, feel, and behave, as well as how they handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health influences various aspects of life, including how people cope with challenges, form relationships, and make decisions. It’s essential for overall well-being and affects every aspect of a person’s life, from work to relationships to physical health.
Emotional well-being, on the other hand, specifically focuses on an individual’s ability to manage and regulate their emotions effectively. It involves being aware of one’s feelings, understanding them, and being able to express them appropriately. Emotional well-being encompasses feelings of happiness, contentment, and satisfaction, as well as the ability to cope with stress, adversity, and uncertainty. It’s about maintaining a positive outlook on life and developing resilience in the face of challenges. Emotional well-being is closely tied to mental health, as emotional states often reflect one’s overall psychological state.
Why is mental health important for children?
Mental health is crucial for children for several reasons:
- Foundation for Development: Mental health during childhood lays the foundation for emotional, social, and cognitive development. Healthy mental functioning enables children to learn, form relationships, and navigate life’s challenges effectively.
- Academic Success: Good mental health positively impacts academic achievement. Children with positive mental health are better able to concentrate, retain information, and perform well in school.
- Healthy Relationships: Mental health influences how children form and maintain relationships with family, peers, and others. It affects their ability to communicate, empathize, and collaborate effectively.
- Emotional Regulation: Children with good mental health are better equipped to regulate their emotions, manage stress, and cope with challenges. They are less likely to engage in risky behaviors or develop maladaptive coping mechanisms.
- Resilience: Mental health plays a crucial role in building resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity. Resilient children are better able to adapt to changes, face setbacks, and overcome obstacles in life.
- Physical Health: Mental health and physical health are interconnected. Poor mental health can contribute to physical health problems, while good mental health promotes overall well-being and reduces the risk of developing physical illnesses.
- Long-term Well-being: Investing in children’s mental health early in life can have long-term benefits. Children who develop good mental health habits are more likely to become emotionally stable, productive adults with higher overall well-being.
Overall, promoting mental health in children is essential for their overall development, academic success, social relationships, and long-term well-being. It sets the stage for a fulfilling and productive life.
The Change Team
- Mr Turnbull – Wellbeing award lead/ Teacher of PE
- Mrs Cowley – Senior Leadership Team / Sendco/ Wellbeing award lead
- Mrs Bulman – Pastoral manager
- Mrs Towse – Learning support assistant / Wellbeing lead
- Mrs Burton – Administration
- Mrs Cook – Teacher of English
- Miss Scott – Teacher of PSHEE
- Mr Heads – Teacher of Maths
- Mr Pearce – Teacher of Design and Technology
Wellbeing across the curriculum
At Parkside house school we recognise the importance of promoting methods to improve mental health and wellbeing. Our specialist teachers plan and deliver engaging, exciting and creative lessons to inform our students on mental health and wellbeing.
Physical Education (PE) – Mr Turnbull
Parkside house school recognises the importance of adopting an active lifestyle and therefore promotes this at every opportunity through the PE curriculum. The student engages in various forms of exercise throughout their time at Parkside house school which includes but not limited to topics such as health, fitness and wellbeing to trampolining to invasion games. The students also take part in Wanderers competitions against other schools throughout the year.
PSHEE – Miss Scott
The PSHE curriculum dives deeper into various topics within mental health and wellbeing. PSHE education helps children and young people to understand their own and others’ emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and seek appropriate support.
Art – Miss Kay
Art therapy is an excellent method to promote positive mental health and wellbeing. Our students look forward to their art lessons each week where they will develop their art and design skills using various media.
Sunshine room – Miss Goldsborough
Our key stage 2 classroom offers various activities to promote and further understand mental health and wellbeing. The students in key stage 2 adopt a creative approach to their learning and thoroughly enjoy their lessons.
Animal care
Animal care lessons in Parkside House School and very popular and loved by our students. Caring for our guinea pigs or therapy dogs is a precious method of promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Zones of regulation
The Zones of Regulation is a framework designed to help individuals, particularly children, develop self-regulation skills and emotional awareness. At Parkside house school, each classroom shows these zones of regulation in various forms to allow our students to become more emotionally aware. It categorizes emotions and states of alertness into four color-coded zones:
- Blue Zone: This zone represents low levels of alertness and energy. Emotions commonly associated with this zone include sadness, tiredness, and boredom. It’s a state where one might feel sluggish or withdrawn.
- Green Zone: The green zone signifies a regulated and calm state of alertness. Emotions in this zone include happiness, calmness, and focused attention. People in this zone are typically ready to learn and engage in activities.
- Yellow Zone: The yellow zone indicates a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions. Emotions like frustration, anxiety, excitement, or silliness may be experienced. Individuals in this zone may have difficulty concentrating or may be starting to lose control of their actions.
- Red Zone: This zone signifies an extremely heightened state of alertness and intense emotions. Emotions such as anger, rage, panic, or extreme excitement are common. Individuals in the red zone may be experiencing a loss of control and may engage in behaviours that are harmful to themselves or others.
The Zones of Regulation framework aims to help individuals recognize which zone they are in, understand how their emotions impact their behaviour, and develop strategies to regulate their emotions and move towards the green zone where they can function optimally.
Useful links for young people and parent/carers
Kooth
Free online support for young people. Kooth counsellors are online Monday-Friday, 12 noon till 10pm and weekends, 6pm till 10pm
Young Minds
Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Just as people’s bodies can become unwell, people’s minds can become unwell too. Mental health problems are more common than you might think – three children in every classroom have a mental health problem.
Young Minds offer information to young people and children about mental health and emotional wellbeing. If you need to talk, they can let you know about organisations that listen, plus they offer online support and info
ChildLine
Childline is the UK’s free helpline for children and young people. It provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child or young person with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects. So, if you are worried about anything, big or small – don’t bottle it up. It can really help if you talk to someone. If there is something on your mind, ChildLine is there for you. You can visit the Childline Explore section for advice and information on a range of topics. Also, you can get support on the online message boards. ‘Everyone helps each other out and is going through the same things as me – it’s a really welcoming place’ Freephone 0800 1111 (24 hours and the call won’t show on your phone bill)
The Mix
The Mix Free, confidential telephone helpline finding young people the best help whatever the problem. Provides free connections to local or national services, and can text information to callers’ mobile phones. Freephone 0808 808 4994 (7 days a week 1pm-11pm)
Samaritans
Samaritans’ volunteers listen in confidence to anyone in any type of emotional distress, without judging or telling people what to do. Call 0116 123 (24 hours, 7 days a week)
FRANK
Confidential information and advice for anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s drug or solvent misuse. Freephone 0800 77 66 00 (24-hour service, free if calling from a landline and won’t show up on the phone bill, provides translation for non-English speakers)
B-EAT
Youth helpline Online community information, help and support for anyone affected by eating disorders. Call 0845 634 7650 (Monday to Friday evenings, from 4.30pm to 8.30pm, and Saturdays, 1.00pm – 4.30pm)
Kidscape
Kidscape are the first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and sexual abuse. The website offers advice and practical skills on how to deal with bullying. Remember, no-one deserves to be bullied. Nearly everyone is bullied at some time in their lives: by brothers and sisters, by neighbours, by adults or by other children/young people. If you are being bullied, you may feel scared, vulnerable and quite alone but you owe it to yourself to try and sort out the situation so that the bullying stops.
It Gets Better Project
Project created to inspire hope for young people facing harassment. A place where young people who are lesbian, gay, bi, or trans can see clips of other people’s coming out stories. www.talktofrank.com Brook Advisory Service Brook is the UK’s leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work.
Winston’s Wish
The death of a parent, brother or sister is one of the most fundamental losses a child will ever face. At Winston’s Wish, they believe that bereaved children need support to make sense of death and rebuild their lives. The Winston’s Wish Helpline offers support, information and guidance to all those caring for a bereaved child or young person. Helpline 08452 03 04 05 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Wednesday evenings, 7pm to 9.30 pm)