Mental Health & Wellbeing
At Marshside Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff, and we understand that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play.
At our school we:
- help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
- help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries without stigma
- help children socially, to form and maintain relationships
- promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count and are valued
- 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. Eg: relevant whole school assemblies, our SCARF PSHE programme, promoting and developing our HEART values throughout the school and staff who are always here to listen.
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, friendship circles, anger workshops or positive self-talk sessions. We also have a play therapist, Penny, who comes into school once a week to work with identified children on a 1-1 basis.
Outside agency intervention – We work closely with Sefton’s Schools Mental Health Support Team who can provide 1-1 work around anxiety and other mental health concerns (our designated Educational Mental Health Practitioner is Katie Morse), we refer into CAMHs, and signpost into other Mental Health support agencies such as parenting 2000 and Venus.
Useful links and information
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/websites –
This is a comprehensive site with links to every different area of mental
health support for children and young people and their families including:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/
https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk – This website is full of videos and articles about a whole range of issues children may face – from fussy eating to dealing with grief.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/znsmxyc
https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety
https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/ – this has a section for children and one for adults and it covers everything from healthy eating to dental hygiene to feelings. The information for children is presented in a very child-friendly way with lots of games and graphics.
Mindfulness
Here are some nice ideas for mindfulness activities you could do with all the family:
https://alderhey.nhs.uk/application/files/9815/8515/7280/Mindfulness_activities_for_kids.pdf
https://www.headspace.com/mindfulness/activities-for-kids
https://cosmickids.com/five-mindfulness-activities-your-kids-will-love/
There are lots of lovely children’s mindfulness and yoga videos on YouTube so do have an explore!
Our Marshside Family
Our families and school community are also incredibly important to us and we are always here to offer support and advice and signpost or refer to relevant agencies or areas of support.
Please come to us if you are struggling with anything and need practical help, or if you just need a listening ear.
We hold family coffee mornings on our Big Bus and often have guests from other areas of life – for example, the school nurse or SEND support – and these are a great way of connecting with our community.
Our Minis group on Wednesday afternoon, for carers and children up to pre-school age, is another fabulous chance to have a brew and meet people.
Our school nurse is Claire Lynam and she can be reached on 0151 247 6354 She can help with issues such as sleep hygiene, incontinence and can also signpost to other services.
http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/our-services/south-sefton/school-health-team
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to help improve your mental health and wellbeing, these are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.
The website below gives you some tips and advice on how to follow these 5 Steps to Wellbeing.
Here are some useful links for some local areas of support:
https://compassionacts.uk/ – they provide financial advice and support and a wide
range of social activities.
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/southport – they run the Little Miracles Baby Bank
from here and can also offer help with clothing, furniture and gas and electricity.
https://parenting2000.org.uk/ – parenting support and therapeutic services.
https://www.liferooms.org/contact-us/our-sites/life-rooms-southport – “We are here to
help you improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Whatever the issue; from
housing and employment, to lifestyle or exercise.”
https://seftoncab.org.uk/contact-us/ – Citizens Advice Bureau