Mental Health and Wellbeing

‘Pupils show a strong understanding of the importance of mental health for their age. This is promoted by staff who ensure suitable strategies are embedded in lesson plans and that pupils have opportunities for mindfulness. The highly effective pastoral care provided by the staff helps pupils to better understand their emotions and have strategies to help themselves feel good. Pupils and staff benefit from opportunities to nourish their well-being due to a highly supportive governing body‘. ISI Report Feb 2022

At Laleham Lea School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils, Staff and whole community. We have a supportive and caring ethos and our approach is respectful and kind, where each individual and contribution is valued.

At Laleham Lea our staff use a variety of techniques and methods to:

• help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
• help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• promote self esteem and encourage children to be confident
• help children to develop emotional resilience

The Laleham Lea Rainbow Room

We have recently launched the ‘Laleham Lea Rainbow Room’, our new teaching, learning and wellbeing hub. The ‘Rainbow Room’ supports teaching, learning and wellbeing for all Laleham Lea students across the school from Nursery to Year 6. One to one and small group sessions, Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) and Lego Therapy all take place here.

Lego Therapy employs the use of three key roles ‘Engineer’, ‘Builder’ and ‘Supplier’ to build a model together using LEGO bricks. This is facilitated by a trained adult, although child led, to allow the children a means of developing their social communication skills.
 

An ELSA is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. An ELSA works to support children and young people in a wide range of areas, such as mental health and processing emotions, helping them to reach their potential and cope with a variety of challenges. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists.

Mrs Hall is Laleham Lea’s ELSA. She has been fully trained and is regularly supervised by educational psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to children who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs. Most ELSA work takes place on an individual basis, but sometimes small group work is more appropriate, especially when working on developing areas of social and friendship skills.

How Does ELSA work?

Children can be referred for ELSA support by their class teacher or our SENDCO Mrs Bagnall. Parents will always be contacted at this stage to ensure you are happy with the proposed support before any sessions commence. Parents are also welcome to contact Mrs Bagnall directly on cbagnall@lalehamlea.co.uk if you think your child could benefit from extra support.

What can an ELSA help with?

ELSAs can help with (amongst other things):

• Loss and bereavement
• Emotional Literacy
• Self esteem
• Social Skills
• Friendship issues
• Relationships
• Managing strong feelings
• Anxiety
• Conflict
• Growth Mindset

Supporting NOT fixing

ELSAs are not there to fix children’s problems. Instead, they provide emotional support to those who need it. For children with more complex or long term needs, it is unrealistic to expect ELSA intervention to resolve all of their difficulties, however support will be designed to target specific aspects of a child’s need. If appropriate Mrs Hall and Mrs Bagnall may discuss further external support options. If you are concerned about the mental health or wellbeing of your child, please discuss you concerns with your child’s teacher.

At Laleham Lea Students are regularly encouraged to talk about any concerns or worries they have and Children’s Mental Health Week provides an excellent focal point for discussions, assemblies and workshops to help students better understand their own mental health needs and those of others.

We strive to promote a mentally healthy environment throughout the year at Laleham Lea where children are able to share honestly their thoughts and feelings through:

• Our fully trained Metal Health First Aider to support Students and Staff with any issues that may be affecting them and their well being
• Promoting pupil voice and opportunities to participate in decision-making (School Council & Eco Council)
• Celebrating all Student achievements both academic and non-academic (Our ‘Star Assembly’ celebrates all student achievements each week, from Ballet certificates to Music gradings and everything in between).
• Providing opportunities to take responsibility for themselves and others (Year 6 Pupils are give ‘Promotions’ to roles of responsibility including Prefects, Sports’ Captains, Buddies and Eco-Warriors).
• Access to appropriate support that meets their needs.

Links to further resources that Parents may find useful:

https://mindedforfamilies.org.uk/young-people

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/childrens-mental-health/

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/

https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents