Mental Health & Wellbeing

At Airedale Infant Acadmey, it is important to us that all members of our school community are healthy both physically and mentally. We recognise the responsibility we have for the physical development and the well-being of our children. We will exploit every opportunity through our curriculum to help the children develop the physical and mental strength to be successful and happy.

We are always looking for new ways to ensure that our stakeholders are equipped with the right skills to ensure they have positive mental wellbeing and also where they can seek support should they need it.

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Mental Health & Wellbeing Policy

Wellbeing Award

Wellbeing Award for Schools

In 2020 we were successful in achieving the Wellbeing Award for Schools accreditation, something we are very proud of. The award recognises our commitment to promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health in our whole school community.

Principles behind the award

There are four key principles driving the ideas and recommendations behind the award:

Emotional wellbeing and mental health are a continuum. Related issues can range from positive attitudes and behaviour, through to experiences of emotional distress and mental disorder.

Schools already experience and manage emotional issues on a daily basis; the objective is to minimise the impact of such issues and maximise the effectiveness of any responses.

Emotional wellbeing covers a range of dimensions, such as resilience, character building, relationships and self-esteem, etc. Understanding both developmental and mental health awareness is critical.

Creating a positive school culture requires a whole school approach that is led from the top while involving all in the school community.

Our school already prides itself on ‘high quality personal development and welfare’. Embarking on the award process does not imply that our school is failing in this area, but rather that we are recognising the needs and demands for positive mental wellbeing in today’s society.

The whole-school community

One theme that is central to the award is the need for schools to draw the wider community and relevant stakeholders into the centre of the change process. Parents and carers are one such group. Evidence shows that, for parents, the emotional and mental health needs of their children is of increasing concern, and often parents look to the school to support and inform them. Pupils also need to be given the opportunity to express their own voice and this can be an influential source of good ideas for any school looking for innovative and appropriate solutions.

As another critical group of the whole school community, the award views the wellbeing of staff as significant as that for pupils. Equipping teachers and others with the know-how and skills needed to be better informed on issues surrounding mental health is essential.

Existing Services

As a school, we are proud of the initiatives we offer our pupils. We promote positive mental health and wellbeing for everyone with these initiatives:

Pupils are supported by class teachers, Key Stage Leaders and all other staff
Learning Mentors available daily for support
Wellbeing first aiders (Mrs Lisa Hooley)
Regular assemblies and celebrations to raise the awareness of mental health and wellbeing occur throughout the year
Purple Time (Independent learning time) to increase resilience
Extra-curricular clubs including a wide range of sports
Health professionals at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
A wide range of outside agency involvement including school nurse,
Post box system for students to inform us of their feeling without speaking to us
Worry Monsters

Pupils who have a specific learning need or are having difficulties at home may access the following support:

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Miss Lovelock

If you have any questions or queries about Mental Health, the best thing to do is talk about it. We have a strong team of people that can offer help including our Learning Mentors and our Mental Health First Aiders

Mental Health and Support Services

If you’re experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places other than school that you can refer to for help. Please see below for various links to differing helplines and websites.

Links

NHS

Turning Point- Castleford Hub

NSPCC

Heads Together

Young Minds

Childline- Mental Health

Wellbeing Award

Existing Services

Mental Health and Support Services

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