Well Being Award Update

We are pleased to announce that we have achieved the Well Being Award in recognition of the systems and strategies that are in  place to protect the well-being and mental health of pupils and staff. As a school we focus on prevention of difficulties by teaching children about mental health and wellbeing using teaching materials produced by the PHSE association, Department of Education-SEAL resources and 3D PHSE curriculum. Poor social skills and low esteem impact on children's wellbeing and mental health. Therefore we have audited our PHSE curriculum to ensure that children are taught the necessary strategies needed to support their mental health and wellbeing. To remove the stigma of talking about mental health we support the Mind Charity " Wear Yellow Campaign" in the Autumn Term and the Spring Term we support the Place2Be Mental Health Week. 

There is an ongoing programme of professional development training for staff so that they are equipped to understand the risk and recognise the associated behaviours that come with mental health difficulties. The school has a planned tiered approach to intervention which meets the expectations of the Bexley Council Send Toolkit( This ensures that children that need specialist help can be referred more easily as the school has a clear pathway of identification and intervention).

The original strategy document and the interim review document are on the website for you to view at your leisure.

If you have any further suggestions and ideas on how as a school we can work together on this important issue please email Mrs Clarke c.o school office.

 Well-Being Award For Schools

 

Pelham Primary School is currently working towards achievement of the Well-being Award.  The award focuses on ensuring effective practice and provision is in place that promotes the emotional well-being and mental health of both staff and pupils.  The focus of the award is on changing the long-term culture of a school and embedding an ethos where mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all.

 

With this award, the school can demonstrate its commitment to-

 

• Promoting mental health as part of everyday school life
• Improving the emotional well-being of their staff and pupils
• Ensuring mental health problems are identified early and appropriate support provided
• Offering provision and interventions that matches the needs of its pupils and staff
• Raising awareness of the importance of mental health awareness
• Capturing the views of parents, pupils and teachers on mental health issues

 

More information about this award is available on the NCB website:

https://www.ncb.org.uk/news-opinion/news-highlights/award-scheme-recognises-schools-building-better-mental-health 

 

There are five stages in the WAS process and the school will be supported throughout in order to evidence best practise and to achieve the award:

1. School self-evaluation

2.Preparation of an Action Plan

3.Implementation of actions and collecting evidence into a portfolio

4.Interim assessment of progress

5.Verification of achievement of the award

 

The Award Objectives

The WAS has eight objectives which focus on the areas of evaluation, development of the work of schools in promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and positive mental health. Each of these areas is further broken down into Key Performance Indicators.

Objective 1: The school is committed to promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health by achieving the Wellbeing Award For Schools.

Objective 2: The school has a clear vision and strategy for promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing mental health, which is communicated to all involved.

Objective 3:The school has a positive culture which regards the emotional wellbeing and mental health as the responsibility of all.

Objective 4: The school actively promotes staff emotional well being and mental health

Objective 5:The school prioritises professional learning and staff development on emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Objective 6:The school understands the different types of emotional and mental health needs across the whole-school community and has systems in place to respond appropriately.

Objective 7:The school actively seeks the ongoing participation of the whole-school coummunity in its approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Objective 8: The school works in partnerships with other schools,agencies and available specialist services to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Principles behind the Award

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

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

2.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.

3.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.

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