At Gedney Church End Primary Academy, we want every child to feel safe, valued, supported and ready to learn. We recognise that children's mental health and emotional wellbeing are an important part of their development and closely connected to their happiness, relationships, learning and ability to thrive.

Supporting Positive Mental Health

We take a whole-school approach to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. Through our curriculum, assemblies, everyday routines and relationships, we help children to recognise and talk about their emotions, develop positive relationships, build resilience and learn strategies for managing challenges.

We want children to understand that experiencing different emotions is a normal part of life. As they grow, children may encounter worries, changes, friendship difficulties, disappointment or other challenges. Our aim is to give them the confidence, language and strategies to manage these experiences and, importantly, to know when and how to ask for help.

A School Where Children Feel They Belong

Positive relationships are at the heart of our approach. Our staff work hard to know children as individuals and to create an environment where pupils feel listened to, respected and able to speak to a trusted adult when something is worrying them.

Our school values of SPARK: Self-belief, Perseverance, Aspiration, Respect and Kindness also support children's personal development and wellbeing. We encourage children to believe in themselves, persevere when things are difficult, show kindness and respect to others and develop the confidence to achieve their aspirations.

Identifying When a Child Needs More Help

Sometimes a child may need additional support with their emotional wellbeing or mental health. Staff are alert to changes in a child's behaviour, presentation or circumstances and will work sensitively with the child and their family to understand what support may be needed.

Support will be appropriate to the individual child and may include additional opportunities to talk with a trusted adult, pastoral support, targeted activities or interventions, and working with other professionals and services where this would be beneficial.

Our aim is always to identify concerns early and work together with families to help children receive the right support at the right time.

Working with Families

Parents and carers know their children best, and working together is an important part of supporting children's wellbeing. We encourage families to speak to us if they have concerns about their child's emotional or mental health, or if circumstances at home may be affecting their wellbeing in school.

Equally, if we notice that a child may need some additional support, we will communicate with parents and carers and work together to identify the most appropriate next steps.

It's Good to Talk

Above all, we want every child at Gedney Church End to know that it is okay not to feel okay and that asking for help is a positive thing to do. There will always be someone in school who will listen.