Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Holy Cross, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where all our students can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. We understand the importance of mental health and well-being in the development of children and young people, and we are here to help them navigate life's challenges, build resilience, and foster positive relationships.

Our Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing

As the Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Lead at our school, I work to ensure that every child has access to the support they need. Our approach is based on creating a whole-school culture that prioritises mental health, including:

• Preventative Measures: Promoting awareness of mental health, self-care, and emotional regulation skills across the school community.
• Early Intervention: Identifying signs of emotional distress or mental health concerns early and offering appropriate support.
• Individual Support: Providing tailored support to students who may need additional help, whether it be through counselling, small group work, or one-on-one mentoring.
• Partnership with Families: Working closely with parents and caregivers to create a supportive home and school environment for children’s mental health.

Key areas we focus on as a school

1. Emotional Regulation & Resilience
   We teach children practical strategies for understanding and managing their emotions. This includes mindfulness, breathing exercises, and coping mechanisms for stress or anxiety. Building emotional resilience helps students handle life’s challenges in a healthy and constructive way.
2. Social Skills & Relationships
   Strong relationships with peers and adults are essential for well-being. We provide guidance and opportunities for students to develop empathy, communication, and conflict resolution skills. This supports a positive, inclusive school culture.
3. Mental Health Education
   We offer age-appropriate lessons on mental health awareness, teaching students about emotions, self-esteem, and mental illness, to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations.
4. Supporting Vulnerable Students
   Children who are dealing with difficult circumstances, such as trauma, bullying, or family issues, may need additional support. We provide tailored interventions, working closely with external agencies as needed.

We have MIND working with us in school to support families with the tools and strategies to enable good relationships at home and in school. Rainbow services in Harlow works with us to support families with coping mechanisms for bereavement and family support. The school nurse regularly comes into school to support health assessments, meetings and work with our families around health, nutrition and wellbeing.

Support for our children

• Wellbeing Check-ins: Regular check-ins with children to ensure they feel safe, supported, and connected.
• Counselling Services: Referrals to individual or group counselling with qualified professionals based on the needs of the children.
• Peer Support Networks: Encouraging peer mentoring and buddy systems to help students build supportive friendships.
• . In year 6 our children also attend a morning session at The Latton Bush Centre - The Crucial Crew to learn life skills to help prepare and build the children’s skills and resilience around road safety, county line gangs, fire safety in readiness for moving on to secondary school. We also have a year 6 retreat day to build the children’s spiritual wellbeing.
• Digital Wellbeing: Education on healthy online behaviours and managing the pressures of social media.
• Physical Wellbeing Children are encouraged to get enough sleep, limit time on electronics, drink plenty of water and be physically active.

Support

We encourage all students to talk about their feelings, whether they’re experiencing challenges with their mental health or simply need someone to talk to. The children can seek help by:

• Speaking to a Teacher: Teachers and support staff are trained to listen and can direct children to the right support. All classes have worry boxes for children so they can leave messages to the staff in class. Mrs Gallagher our SEMH lead also has a worry monster outside her room for children to leave a message if she is not available at that time. Within school, all classes use the Colour Monster story and regularly use this to promote in-class wellbeing for the children by having stations of emotions where children can place how they are feeling each day.
• Wellbeing Lead: The SEMH Lead Mrs Gallagher is available for confidential support and advice every day and has an open door policy, so children and staff can access her at anytime.
• Parent or Carer Involvement: Parents and Carers are encouraged to contact the school if they have concerns about their child’s mental health.

Support for Parents and Carers

As a school, we understand the important role parents and carers play in the mental health of their children. We provide resources to support families, including:

• Coffee Mornings, Workshops and Information Sessions: Periodic sessions to help parents understand mental health issues and how they can support their child at home.
• Mental Health Resources: A collection of reading materials for parents to learn more about mental health in our leaflet display in the school office.
• External Support: Referrals to external services such as CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), counselling services, and community-based organisations such as MIND, Kids Inspire, Young Carers, School Nurse, Rainbow Services.

Top Tips for Supporting Mental Health at Home

1. Listen Without Judgment: Create a safe space for your child to talk about their feelings.
2. Encourage Healthy Routines: A balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep habits can have a significant impact on mental health.
3. Be a Positive Role Model: Show your child how to manage stress and take care of your own mental health.
4. Promote Connection: Help your child develop strong friendships and connections with others.
5. Limit Screen Time: Set healthy boundaries around screen use, especially before bedtime.

Emergency Support

If you or your child is experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s important to seek help immediately. Here are some services you can contact:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (available 24/7)
• Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support in a crisis.
• NHS Mental Health Services: Available through your GP or by calling NHS 111
• Kooth- online chat for children.
• Childline 08001111

Contact Us

If you have any concerns about your child’s mental health or well-being, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us:

• SEMH Lead: Mrs Kerry Gallagher
  Email: semhcoordinator@holycross-pri.essex.sch.uk
  Phone: 01279 424452

We are here to help and support you and your child every step of the way.