At Caedmon Primary School, we recognise the importance of supporting pupils’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. As a result, we ensure that we have a wide range of provision available for pupils to access.
School Counselling and Play Therapy
Our counselling service, Headlight, offers counselling in a supportive and calm environment. We also have a counsellor that works between the Trust schools. Counselling sessions take place in a quiet, undisturbed room. This safe space is where pupils can talk about whatever is troubling them with a counsellor who works with them to build trust and help them develop their own emotional coping skills to deal with any stresses they may be facing. The co-regulatory support that the counsellor fosters with our pupil is beneficial for their emotional regulation.
Thrive and Nurture Provision
The Thrive Approach is a dynamic, developmental and trauma-sensitive approach to meet the emotional and social needs of our pupils. This approach is implemented by staff specifically trained in Thrive, with the aim to achieve a better understanding of how we can support those pupils’ social and emotional needs.
Rubies
We work in partnership with Rubies. They provide an 8-week course for Year 6 girls to support them with the transition to secondary school. It aids them to recognise their unique strengths and abilities and helps them to view themselves, and each other, in a positive light.
Yoga
Yoga is an intervention implemented to help specific pupils to relieve tension and stress, increase their concentration and focus and to promote creative thinking and memory. For those pupils who are involved, it can also build their confidence and self-esteem, support their emotional intelligence, enhance their team spirit and social interaction. It also develops strength and physical abiltiy.
Headstart
Headstart is an educational programme themed around mental health, emotional well-being and resilience. The programme sets out to support our pupil Headstart Ambassadors across school so that they can help their peers with self-confidence, give them a safe platform to discuss their views and feelings and help to tackle issues that pupils in our area could be facing. Caedmon are very proud to have achieved our Bronze Headstart Award and we are well on our way to being awarded the Silver Headstart Award!
Please click here to view the programme focus.
Worry Boxes and Wellbeing Display
Our worry boxes and class well-being displays provide our pupils with an interactive and thought-provoking system to privately and visually foster their emotional intelligence. The worry boxes offer a place for those pupils who may struggle to speak about their internal worries and concerns to privately write down any issues they may be facing. The well-being displays allow pupils to think about how they are feeling and present it on the display. Those concerns, worries and also positive emotions will be reflected on by the teacher and the appropriate support will be given.
Regulation Stations
Each classroom has a specific area to support children to self-regulate, called a Regulation Station. Here, children are able to access a range of resources and equipment to aid in their self-regulation and help them to manage their emotions effectively and appropriately. These resources could include: guided breathing activities; tactile resources such as play-doh; books or focused activities such as puzzles.
Mindfulness
Every Monday morning, children start their day with a mindfulness activity. We call this ‘Mindfulness Monday’. This helps children to settle back into school after their weekend and get ready for a busy week of learning. During the day, teachers may plan in specific and necessary moments of mindfulness.
Mindfulness means paying full attention to something and not thinking about anything else in that moment. It means slowing down and really taking notice of what you are doing, even if it means that pupils just focusing on their breathing. When they really focus on being mindful, they slow down, take their time, and concentrate on something in a way that is both relaxing and stress-free. Our mindfulness sessions usually involve a combination of breathing exercises, visualization, body awareness, relaxation or a stress-relieving activity.
