With such a huge amount of time spent in the classroom, our school provides an ideal environment for promoting good emotional wellbeing and identifying early behaviour changes and signs of mental distress. The social and emotional skills, knowledge and behaviours that pupils learn in the classroom can help them to build resilience and set the pattern for how they will manage their mental health throughout their lives.

Emotional wellbeing is a clear indicator of academic achievement and success in later life. Evidence shows that mental health and wellbeing programmes in schools can lead to significant improvements in children’s mental health, and social and emotional skills. Wellbeing provision in schools can also lead to reductions in classroom misbehaviour and bullying. 

To support our children's mental health, in PSHE we have started using the Jigsaw programme.  This has lots of activities to help all our children make the transition back into full time learning as quickly as possible.  It further allows them to explore some of the issues that have arisen in the past few months whilst they have been away from school.

Our current focus in Jigsaw is Healthy Me.  The children will learn about a range of factors that affect their physical and mental health and well-being.  These include exercise, nutrition, relaxation and the safe use of medicines.  For the older children, this extends to learning about how substances affect the body, anti-social behaviour, body image and taking personal responsibility.

ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) at St Bartholomew’s

ELSA support is much more than having a friendly chat with an anxious pupil. It is also much more than problem-solving some difficulties that a child is having. ELSA support is about developing a respectful relationship in which the pupil is enabled to think about their situation without feeling judged or criticised. As our St Bart’s ELSA establishes a warm, respectful relationship with a pupil in a reflective space where the pupil is able to share honestly their thoughts and feelings.

We inform parents when we are providing their children with ELSA support. 

elsa@st-bartholomews.leics.sch.uk

New mental health and wellbeing guide for children, young people and families

A new guide targeting children, young people and families with emotional, mental health and wellbeing needs is now available online.   

New Mental Health and wellbeing guide link

The directory provides information on a range of general and specialist NHS mental health services for young people, including online and telephone support, together with top tips for children and families and details of youth groups as well as support available from local councils.

Guidance on Infection Control in Schools

Please click on the link below for the Public Health guidance on Infection Control in Schools

Guidance on Infection Control in Schools

Family Support

https://www.familyhubsleicestershire.org.uk

School Nurse

Please see the document below for information.