...our richly unique and diverse children...

At Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils. Supporting and promoting wellbeing, building resilience and good mental health will improve outcomes for our children. With such a huge amount of time spent in the classroom, schools provide an ideal environment for promoting good emotional wellbeing and identifying early behaviour changes and signs of mental distress. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. The social and emotional skills, knowledge and behaviours that young people learn in the classroom can help them to build resilience and set the pattern for how they will manage their mental health throughout their lives.

We have a pupil Wellbeing Ambassador in every class, we include Wellbeing in our school-wide PSHE curriculum and in addition offer a number of targeted interventions throughout the school such as  drawing and talking, circle time and theraplay.

At our school we:                                                                                                 

• help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
• help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
• encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
• help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support – To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance, developing resilience for all.

Additional support – For those who may have short-term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.

Targeted support – For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups or personal mentors.

We all have times when we have low Mental Wellbeing, where we feel stressed, upset or find it difficult to cope.

There are some common life events that may affect you or your child's Mental Wellbeing:

• Loss or bereavement.
• Loneliness.
• Relationship problems.
• Issues at school.
• Worries about money.

Everyone deserves to feel good and there are steps you or your child can take to maintain and improve your Mental Wellbeing:

• Build positive relationships.
• Take time for yourself.
• Look after your mental health.
• Look after your physical health.

What can your child can do in school to gain Mental Wellbeing?

• Be open and talk about your feelings with your friends.
• Associate yourself with positive people.
• Join an afterschool club.
• Speak to a member of staff.
• Tell the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team.
• Get physically active (a Health body and mind are closely linked).

Bridge People is a community response provided by churches and partners in Maidstone.  They offer help including ffod parcels, activity boxes for children, friendly support of all types and help with young children.  See the following documents for more details.

Nurture Group

This is a pack of items to support your well being and can be used at anytime. The Nurture Team will be happy to share any of your concerns and worries.

Please contact TGooding@abc.aquilatrust.co.uk

Useful links

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ 
A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/
The Anna Freud centre shares quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.

https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/coronavirus-information-and-support
The coronavirus has disrupted the life of every child in the country. Feeling anxious or overwhelmed is completely understandable at a time like this, especially if you are struggling with mental health or are concerned about someone with a physical illness. Our mental and emotional health resource vault is full of advice on issues that may be worrying young people.

Young Minds
YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Advice on depression, anxiety, ADHD & self-harm

YoungMinds Parents Helpline
0808 802 5544 (9.30 to 4.00pm, Mon- Fri)

 www.youngminds.org.uk

We offer free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.

Papyrus-is the UK Charity for the prevention of young suicide.
CALL: 0800 068 41 41 TEXT: 0778 620 9697
EMAIL: pat@papyrus-uk.org
OPENING HOURS
Mon-Fri 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Weekends 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm Bank Holidays 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm

FRANK
0300 123 6600 (UK), 24 hours a day
live chat (UK), 2-6pm
SMS: 82111 - Need a quick answer? Text a question and FRANK will text you back.
website: www.talktofrank.com

Samaritans

Telephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, free to call)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: www.samaritans.org

Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.

Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line

Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (9.30am - 4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@rethink.org
Website: http://www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice

Provides expert advice and information to people with mental health problems and those who care for them, as well as giving help to health professionals, employers and staff. Rethink also runs Rethink services and groups across England and Northern Ireland.

ChildLine

Telephone: 0800 1111
Email: http://www.childline.org.uk/Talk/Pages/Email.aspx
Website: www.childline.org.uk

ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor for free about anything - no problem is too big or too small.

APPS

Headspace - Live a happier, healthier life with just a few minutes of meditation a day on the Headspace app.

KOOTH - XenZone is a provider of online mental health services for children, young people and adults.Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.Please click on this link if you wish to be directed to Kooth.

Colorfy -  is a lovely colouring mindfulness app that first started off in print version. Based in science of creativity and how colouring can create a feeling of flow that is associated with a meditative state. It is beautiful, and just looking at the lovely colours made me feel happy. You can paint from pre-loaded templates or even create your own.