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Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Bandon Hill

At Bandon Hill, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all in our school community.

In Spring 2019, we took part in the 'Mental Health Champions' programme with Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity, which has helped us adapt and introduce strategic changes to help create a ‘mentally healthy’ school community.

“We all want our children to have the best possible start in life. Encouraging children to understand and be open about their feelings can give them the skills to cope with the ups and downs that life will throw at them as they grow up. It’s important that our children understand that emotions are normal, and that they have the confidence to ask for help if they are struggling’

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

 

Wellbeing in the curriculum

Each week, every class will have a session dedicated to wellbeing. These sessions cover a variety of important topics including lifestyle, e-safety, mental health and our LORIC values (Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication.) By dedicating time to wellbeing in our curriculum, we are supporting children to develop skills and strategies to become well-rounded, tolerant and caring citizens.

Support Directory

The Support Directory offers guidance on where to find further advice and help with your child’s mental health and wellbeing. It details our school support approach as well as providing information for local services and charities. Please click here to read our Support Directory.

ELSA

Our ELSAs also provide a variety of other invaluable interventions to support pupil’s mental health and wellbeing. This includes targeted interventions for SEND pupils, Self-referral drop-in sessions and Wellbeing groups which focus on topics like friendship & self-esteem. 

Cool Box

Cool Box is a lunchtime provision for children who may find the playground overwhelming or a tricky environment. This club is run from 12:30-1:30pm and is a space for quiet and/ or guided play. Cool Box is accessed via invite but we do have a limited amount of tokens available which are handed out by the senior midday supervisor.

Worry Box

Each classroom will have a ‘Worry Box’ or similar available to the children. This allows children to voice any worries they may have in a safe and caring environment. Worries can be posted anonymously and will be discussed and addressed at a designated time each week.

Parent Support/ Workshops

Bandon Hill is continuing to build links with parents with relation to the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils. We are fortunate enough to work with the Sutton Children’s Wellbeing Service who provides support and advice to parents of children who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety or common behavioural difficulties.

Parent workshops are organised throughout the year, often run by wellbeing practitioners and health professionals to ensure reliable information and advice is available. Previously, Bandon Hill has run many invaluable workshops, including child anxiety, resilience and emotional regulation. Our school newsletter continues to advertise local workshops and courses available for parents, including those with children who experience behavioural difficulties or have Special educational needs & disabilities.  Please do keep an eye out any upcoming Parent workshops/courses in our newsletters!

Wellbeing Week

Every year, we have run an incredibly successful ‘Wellbeing Week’ in summer term 2, which has a ‘Healthy Mind, Body & Soul’ approach. This week has seen the children participate in activities like Yoga, non-invasive therapeutic massage, sports (including Zumba dance & skateboarding), healthy workshops and meditation and mindfulness.  In these weeks, children complete Relationships and Sex Education (including Health Education). We use lessons and resources from ‘The Christopher Winter Project’, which is quality assured by the PSHE Association. The children also take part in a variety of other activities, like first aid, to support wellbeing by contributing to a holistic approach.

Click here to look at our wellbeing long term plan.

How can we promote positive mental health and wellbeing at home?

Please click the links below to access some ideas of books, apps and activities you could do at home to support your child’s wellbeing.

30 children’s books to support Mental Health and Wellbeing

Apps for promoting wellbeing

Activities you can do with your child at home

Tips for talking - Anna Freud

Quick Links

Place2be https://www.place2be.org.uk/

Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/

Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/

Childline https://www.childline.org.uk/

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families https://www.annafreud.org/