Children's wellbeing and mental health

In school we support children with their wellbeing in a variety of ways:

• We teach PSHE weekly using the Jigsaw programme with a focus on exploring feelings :

• We use zones of regulation to help children recognise how they are feeling and support themselves to feel calm.
• For some children who have more significant emotional or mental health difficulties we use ELSA support. - see separate page
• We can put in place a weekly catch up with a member of staff.
• Support from our Safeguarding Coordinator - Karen Harper.
• Time with Ozzy the dog.
• A mentor from St James Church - TLG.
• A referral to an outside agency.

Mental Health Support Team

• We have support from the mental health support team for groups and individual children.
  1. To provide evidence-based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) interventions for mild to moderate mental health and wellbeing needs to children and young people.
  2. To support the Mental Health Lead in each MHST school to introduce or develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

To give timely advice and signposting to schools, and to liaise with external agencies, ensuring that children and young people and their families receive the right support at the right time.

St James Church School Mental Health Support Team (MHST) school. This means we are committed to building a mentally healthy school environment helping all members of the school community to feel confident, resilient and independent around their mental wellbeing.

MHSTs were established nationally to improve children and young people’s early access to mental health and wellbeing services by providing support in schools. They work with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Within Somerset the MHST is a jointly delivered service between Young Somerset and Somerset Foundation Trust CAMHS. It is also supported by Public Health England and the Education Psychology service. MHST staff work in collaboration with the Mental Health Lead/Senior Mental Health Lead (delete as appropriate) at our School (insert name). 

The three core functions of the MHST are:

1. 1. To provide evidence-based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) interventions for mild to moderate mental health and wellbeing needs to children and young people.
2. 2. To support the Mental Health Lead in each MHST school to introduce or develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.                                        
3.  3. To give timely advice and signposting to schools, and to liaise with external agencies, ensuring that children and young people and their families receive the right support at the right time.

If you would like to find out more, please speak to Miss Maynard, Mrs O'Connor or Miss Harper at the school.

For more information about the MHST please visit: www.youngsomerset.org.uk/mhst or www.somersetft.nhs.uk/camhs/mental-health-support-in-schools-mhst/

Happy Healthy Holidays