Mental Health & Wellbeing

At Millington Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff.

At our school, we promote a mentally healthy environment through:

• Promoting our school values and encouraging a sense of belonging
• Fostering a safe and positive environment that support the development of positive mental health, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles
• Focusing on relationships and connections to promote self esteem and confidence
• Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making
• Celebrating academic and non-academic achievements in order to promote self-esteem
• Providing opportunities to develop a sense of worth through taking responsibility for themselves and others
• Providing opportunities to reflect
• Access to appropriate support that meets their needs
• Helping children to understand their emotions and feelings better and to feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• Helping children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks through building resilience and a growth mindset

 

We offer different levels of support:
Whole School Support – To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance, developing resilience and emotional literacy.

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  personal mentors.

Staff members to contact if you are concerned about your child’s mental health: Miss Trainor (Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator and Mental Health First Aider), Mrs Brownlee (Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator) and Mrs Taylor (Designated Teacher.)

What do we currently do for mental health and wellbeing for our pupils and staff?

• We have a designated Mental Health and Well Being Coordinators in school that are responsible for promoting wellbeing for our staff and pupils (Miss Trainor and Mrs Brownlee.)
• We have nominated school council members in each class to represent their peers and promote pupil voice.
• We have home/school communication for pupil’s who require more regular updates.
• We have mental health and wellbeing trained staff in order to support pupils with their needs.
• We have positive behaviour systems in place to promote positive social behaviour.
• We have mental health and wellbeing assemblies to promote resilience and the importance of good mental health.
• We have a PDMU curriculum that helps pupils to build important life skills, such as learning to learn, emotional literacy and develop a growth mindset.
• Our ethos is to promote supporting the development of skills and character traits such as perseverance, compassion and teamwork.
• We include World Mental Health Day, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, AntiBullying Week and World Kindness Day in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.

Supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and mental health, so that they can be listened to, are happy together and ready to learn is vitally important to us. Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Positive Experiences
Millington offers pupils many opportunities to do physical activities as well as opportunities to relax and develop strategies to self regulate which both are ways to promote wellbeing and positive mental health.

• Lunch games to play outside
• AR Library for students
• Active Learning
• Themed Days
• Residential visits
• Educational day visits
• Before and after school clubs such as Be You (focusing on 5 Ways to Wellbeing)
• Shared Education activities
• Mindfulness activities
• Outdoor learning

 

Celebrating Success
We like to celebrate our many successes together by:

• Posting achievements on our school website
• Displaying pupil’s work
• Celebration Award Assembly each month
• Monthly Kindness Award and Hot Chocolate Party with the principal and vice principal
• Class Assemblies

 

Curriculum
The school follows the Northern Ireland Curriculum for the teaching of Mental Health and Wellbeing through the PDMU curriculum in the following ways:

• Personal Development and Mutual Understanding scheme of work
• RSE
• The Tree of Knowledge Curriculum Resources
• Active Learning
• Brain breaks and mindfulness
• Assemblies and theme days

 

Interventions to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
Staff coordinate interventions for pupils mental health and wellbeing such as:

• Mentoring
• Rise NI Supports
• Family Hub Referrals
• RISE: Resilience in schools assessment

 

Mental Health Support Teams
We are currently living through challenging times, and now perhaps more than ever, looking after our mental health and well-being is of paramount importance to us alls.

What do I do if I am worried about my child’s mental health or wellbeing?

You can:

• Go to your GP as a first port of call as they are a useful place to gain medical support and signposting of local services
• Talk to your child’s class teacher about your child’s needs or your concerns.
• Talk to the school’s Mental Health First Aider (Miss Trainor), Designated Teacher (Mrs Taylor) or SENCO (Mrs Hall.)
• Lifeline is Northern Ireland’s crisis response helpline 0808 808 8000.
• Young Minds – The Parents Helpline a parents’ information service providing confidential advice for any adult concerned about the mental health or emotional well-being of a child or young person 0800 018 2138.

 

Useful links
Some useful resources that you could use at home to support your child’s mental health are below:

*Advice for parents and carers: Talking mental health with young people at primary school

This leaflet which was created alongside the Talking Mental Health Animation & Toolkit, features an introduction from our Patron, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, who supported the You’re never too young to talk mental health campaign stating the campaign’s resources “demonstrate how we can help children express their feelings, respond appropriately and prevent small problems from snowballing into bigger ones.”

Parent Leaflet: Talking mental health with young people at primary school

Dealing with anxiety –  https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

Young minds parents’ survival guide –  https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/

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

 https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/

Useful Booklets/Publications:

 Mental Health Parent Leaflet Anna Freud Centre
 Wellbeing Booklist
 The Anxious Child Booklet for Parents
 Worry Doll Instructions
 You need to know guide for parents
 10 key areas to happier living poster
 Relaxation tips for bedtime
 Sleep and Diet Parent Leaflet
 Bedtime routine for Parents
 Mindfulness Booklet A brief guide
 Bereavement Resources
 Schools Information Pack – Bereavement

* Young Minds Publications offers information on a variety of mental health issues from school problems to mental illness in families. https://youngminds.org.uk/shop/publications/

*Young Minds Parents Guide To Support A-Z gives you advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and life events which might be negatively affecting their wellbeing. They also show you where you can get help:
 https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/

 https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/– Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.

*Feelings tracker:  Tracking My Feelings.pdf

*Anxiety thermometer:  Anxiety Thermometer.pdf

*Mindfulness calendar:  Mindfulness Calendar Daily 5 Minute Activities.pdf

*Parent’s Guide to Childhood Anxiety – Knowing the symptoms, how to talk to and support your child with anxiety:  https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety

 https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/grownups/healthy-minds/

 

CAMHS
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

For more information, visit the website below

 Guide to CAMHS (youngminds.org.uk)

 https://southerntrust.hscni.net/service/camhs/Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)-Southern Health and Social Care Trust

CAMHS also have some excellent resources for parents:

 DOWNLOADS | CAMHS Resources (camhs-resources.co.uk)

 

Staff Wellbeing 
The Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body are fully committed to promoting and fostering positive well-being for pupils and staff across Millington Primary School.

A happy and healthy workforce is vital for the success of our pupils. The culture of a school therefore is critical in ensuring that staff have an enjoyable, rewarding working environment in which all colleagues believe the demands of their job are reasonable and manageable.

https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/our-services/ Inspire: Wellbeing, Ability and  Recovery

Inspire (formally known as NIAMH, the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health). Inspire is a charity and social enterprise based in Northern Ireland focusing on promoting wellbeing through mental health, intellectual/learning disability and professional wellbeing services.

 

Children’s Mental Health Week 2023
Between 6th-12th February, pupils took part in a number of activities to promote Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme was Let’s Connect. Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing.

 

 

AntiBullying Week and World Kindness Day 2022

World Kindness Day was celebrated on Sunday 13th November, however we celebrated it on Monday 14th November in school. Kindness is one of the most important values we in Millington seek to instil in our pupils, so much so that we have a monthly award for children who exemplify kindness.

This year, AntiBullying week’s theme ‘Reach Out’ was designed to encourage and empower young people to reach out to those around them. It urges people to talk to a trusted person if they are in need. It also urges pupils to reach out and take action if they know someone else who is being bullied.

 

 

Bereavement
If you have suffered a bereavement and feel that school can support, please do contact us.

 Grief Support
 NHS bereavement support
 Winston’s Wish

  Cruse Bereavement Support NI

Books to support Bereavement:

• Dogger – gentle intro to discussion for very young children
• Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (particularly useful if an older person has died).
• Michael Rosen’s Sad Book
• Tattybogle by Sandra Ann Horn
• Muddles, Puddles & Sunshine by Winstons Wish – is an activity book.
• Vicky Angel by Jaqueline Wilson (a friend’s death,  for older children)