Mental Wellbeing
Supporting positive mental wellbeing at Penketh South Primary School
Schools can play a critical part in many different ways to help promote good mental wellbeing in children and to prevent later problems. We do this in many ways through:
- a positive and supportive school ethos that creates an environment that enhances children and school staff's mental wellbeing.
- delivery of curriculum-based activities supporting key social and emotional skills.
- build on and celebrate positive peer relationships and school staff relationships.
- capitalise on the many 'light-touch' daily contacts that staff have with children and families.
- building into our timetables daily opportunities for wellbing and mindfulness time
As a staff we model positive self-care, resilience and strong social and emotional skills.
Mrs Bennett is our trained Mental Health First Aider in school. We also employ a trained school counsellor to work with those pupils who we feel would benefit from this intervention. This is done in conjunction with parental consent and carried out 1:1 with the child and the counsellor. In addition to this, we have a designated Pastoral Leader, Mrs Bennett, who is a fully-trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and she works with some of our pupils on a daily basis either in small groups or 1:1 depending on the need. Mrs Bennett is also trained to deliver Lego Therapy, Sand Play and Drawing and Talking interventions. Ms McQueen also supports children with their emotional wellbeing.
Most recently, we have embarked upon our 'My Happy Minds' journey which is a curriculum resource delivered in class and accessible at home, and aims to support pupils' mental health and wellbeing.
We believe at Penketh South that outdoor learning is essential for all the children's development and most importantly resilence.
"Time in nature is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And we must give our children time to explore, discover, and get to know the world, which brings endless delights and lessons that never cease.” -Ainsley Arment
All the children participate in Forest School sessions throughout the year as well as sessions in the allotment growing things from seeds.
