Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Health

'Schools have an important role to play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils, by developing approaches tailored to the particular needs of their pupils.’ - Mental Health and Wellbeing Provision in Schools, October 2018.

There is an ever increasing rise in the amount of students who require support with their emotional and mental health. Here at Writhlington School we recognise this, and have access to numerous resources and strategies, internally and externally, to ensure we are knowledgeable and well equipped to help students and families as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The school’s role in supporting and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing can be summarised as:

Prevention

Creating a safe and calm environment, improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole school population. Equipping students to be resilient so that they can manage the normal stress of life effectively. Teaching students about mental wellbeing through the PSHE curriculum, tutor programme during school assemblies as well as reinforcing this teaching through school activities such as mental health awareness week.

Identification

Recognising potential issues as early and accurately as possible and communicating with pastoral staff who in turn will communicate with parents.

Early Support

Helping students to access early support and interventions.

Access to Specialist Support

Working effectively with external agencies to provide swift access or referrals to specialist support and treatment.

Students and parents should contact the Tutor, Pastoral Team or Safeguarding Leads if they have concerns around mental health.

The parent's role in supporting the school's requirements is to ensure that we are informed of any concerns around the mental health of our students so that appropriate support can be put in place quickly. Parents can also use other resources available to them such as the GP or other local mental health services. The Anna Freud website gives numerous useful resources as a first line of support. 

• You can talk to one of your parents or your carer.
• You can visit your GP.
• You can speak to your School Nurse (information on the School Nurse during COVID-19 school closure).
• You can speak to your Progress Leader and ask for a School Counsellor referral.
• You can speak to your Progress Leader and ask for coping strategies for anxiety.
• Visit KOOTH for free, safe, anonymous online support.
• Off The Record is a confidential counselling service in Midsomer Norton High Street.
• Young Carers provides support for students that have caring responsibilities.
• The NSPCC provides support for children around problems they may be having.
• Childline provides support for children around problems they may be having.
• The Samaritans provides support for children around problems they may be having.
• Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for Bath and North East Somerset provides mental health support from NHS services, with direct online referral.
• You can download a leaflet from the Bath and North East Somerset website providing guidance for parents and carers of children and young people with mental health problems.
• You can email space@offtherecord-banes.co.uk or call or text 07487 642761 if you would like LGBTQI+ support.

• Managing anxiety (provided by Kate Holden of the Bath and North East Somerset Mental Health Support Team)
• Strategies to help with anxiety
• Assembly about Kooth (an 11-minute video)
• Summer of kindness (a resource provided by the British Red Cross to support children and young people and help keep them entertained over the summer)
• Self-care summer (resources provided by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families to help young people create their own self-care plan and activities)
• Anxious about Covid-19? (NHS page on ways to limit Covid-19 anxieties)