Mental Health and Wellbeing

February 5 2021

School Office

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-rounded, healthy adults.

Here, at St Albert the Great Catholic Primary School, we are proud of the work we do to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Each class has ‘Wellbeing Ambassadors’ who help organise and facilitate activities and events linked to promoting good mental health and wellbeing.

Our Mental Health Team:

Mental Health Lead: Mrs L Wilson

Deputy Mental Health Lead: Mrs J Kelliher

Link Governor: Mrs Felices Palayo

Meet Our Wellbeing Champions. They meet every two weeks to decide on activities we can implement to support the mental health and wellbeing of all of our students.

Children’s Mental Health Week February 2023

Pupils in Year 6 have been learning about how to fill their buckets with kindness.

Year 1 read the story ‘Ruby’s Worry’. The story is about a little girl who has a worry that keeps growing. Once she talks to someone about her worry, it gets smaller. The children discussed times when they have been worried. They also talked about what they did to ease their worries. Finally, they made a list of who they would talk to if they ever had a worry.

Anti-Bullying Week November 2022

Pupils across KS2 wrote positive affirmations and inserted them into Christmas baubles.

Year 3 discussed ways to be kind. They made hands and wrote 5 people the could talk to if they were feeling sad or bullied on the fingers.

As the theme of anti-bullying week was ‘Reach out’, Year 5 children considered a variety of scenarios and how they would respond to each of them. They discussed who they could talk to and who would be most helpful to deal with their emotions in a tricky situation

World Mental Health Day October 2022

Pupils in Year 5 listened to a special assembly and participated in an online event led by Natalie Costa, who spoke to them about the importance of making mistakes and being able to express feelings in a variety of ways. The pupils then created a piece of art that reflected how they manage their emotions.

Year 1 discussed different activities they could do to improve their well-being. They were able to suggest a wide range of activities and agreed that they dancing, singing and listening to music helps promote good mental health. As a result, they took part in a musical theatre lesson led by Disney Educators live from Theatre Royal, Drury Lane where Frozen is currently being staged. In the lesson, they learned the lyrics and a dance to the song ‘Fixer Upper’ from Frozen the musical. The children loved being able to take part in such a wonderful experience.

Mental Health Awareness Week May 2022

During Mental Health Awareness Week, the children took part in the National Literacy
Trust’s Wellbeing Campaign. On Tuesday, each class watched a live event during which Ant and Dec launched their project ‘Pass the Positivity at School’. During the live event, illustrator Katie Abey, guided the children to draw pictures of what makes them happy. To finish off, Ant and Dec spoke about how reading for just ten minutes can be a big mood booster and have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Children throughout the school then boosted their wellbeing by reading their favourite books.

Children’s Mental Health Week February 2022

Children created their own superheroes to
help them when they are worried. They now know that they can use their own superhero powers to overcome anything.

The children have been participating in a variety of art activities connecting colours to their emotions. The Colour Art Project has allowed them to think about expressing themselves and their feelings through mindful, colourful pieces of art. They have truly enjoyed naming the colours of their emotions and using different techniques to complete their images.

We recognised the importance of wearing what makes us feel comfortable and happy and enjoyed taking part in ‘Dress to Express’ day.

Year 6 enjoyed learning about the brain and how the amygdala and the prefrontal cortext help us to manage our emotions and decision making. They discussed some of the pressures they face and what they can do to help manage the feelings and emotions these pressures bring. The children participated in a mindfulness activity by closing their eyes and, using their other senses to identify and describe different textured objects to their learning partners.

Year 1 participated in some Cosmic Yoga and calming stretches. They focused on their breathing and gentle movements to help get them ready for their learning.

Just Talk Week and Anti-bullying Week November 2021

During Just Talk Week and Anti-bullying Week, children across the school have been involved in many creative activities to help promote the theme ‘One Kind Word’.

Children in Y2 made grow with kindness flowers and have been learning to spread kindness.

They then made paper chains containing the words they had thought of.

Year 1 made a beautiful Tree of Kindness in honour of This tree is decorated with kind words and ways that we can show kindness to other people.

During the week, children in Year 4 enjoyed learning about the history of Anti-bullying Week in their guided reading lessons. Following this, they
created their own posters using Chromebooks
to raise awareness.

World Mental Health Day October 2021

Children in Year 2 created ‘Positivity Jars’ and added positive affirmations.

Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in our local community

Our school community collected items for ‘Comfort Cases’ which provide backpacks filled with comfort and personal care items for youth entering the foster care system.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Children in all year groups have taken part in Yoga sessions.

Children in Year 1 enjoyed taking part in yoga during our recent Mental Health Awareness Week.

Our FS2 children talked about friendship and the qualities a good friend should have. They completed a mindful colouring exercise and presented it to a special friend.

Year 4 enjoyed planting their own seeds as a well-being activity. They will continue to care for their seeds throughout the summer term in the hope of seeing some tomatoes and beans eventually grow through.

Here some pictures of our children enjoying a huge range of activities during our recent Feeling Good Week and Children’s Mental Health Week 2021.

Here are some resources you may find useful:

https://mindedforfamilies.org.uk/ – a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ – an online tool and email journey to support everyone in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing

http://www.bereavement.co.uk/ – information and resources to support bereaved pupils, schools and staff

http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/ – information and resources to support bereaved pupils, schools and staff