At Oaklands, we are committed to supporting the positive mental health and wellbeing of our whole school community (children, staff, parents and carers). We recognise that mental health and emotional wellbeing is just as important to our lives as physical health.

We endeavour to ensure that children are able to manage times of change and stress. We aim to ensure that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. We also have a role in ensuring that children learn about: what they can do to maintain positive mental health; what affects their mental health; how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and where they can go if they need help or support.

At Oaklands we have a designated team for mental health:

Mental Health Lead: Mrs B Andreas (teacher)

Deputy Mental Health Lead: Mrs K Thompson (SENCo)

Pastoral and Wellfare Lead: Miss McGrath

Mental Health First Aider: Mr R Woolin (Support Staff)

Mental Health and Wellbeing Governor: Elin Gillard

Teaching about mental health

At Oaklands we take a whole school approach to promoting positive mental health, aiming to help children become more resilient, happy and successful and to work in a pro-active way to avoid problems arising. We do this by:

• Creating and applying consistent ethos, policies and behaviours that support mental health and resilience, and which everyone understands.
• Adhering to Herts Steps therapeutic approach to behaviour management.
• Focusing on the 5 steps to wellbeing.
• Helping children to develop social relationships, support each other and seek help when they need it.
• Promoting self-esteem and ensuring children understand their importance in the World.
• Helping children to be resilient learners and to manage setbacks.
• Teaching children social and emotional skills and an awareness of mental health.
• Identifying children who have mental health challenges and planning support to meet their needs, including working with specialist services, parents and carers.
• Supporting and training staff to develop their skills and their own resilience.

• Developing an open culture where it’s normal to talk about mental health. 

Parents and carers - Support for Children

Parents or carers should approach their child/children’s class teacher if they have any mental health concerns. This will be cascaded to the Mental Health Leader for assessment. In addition to offering universal support within school, we may also discuss with you additional support mechanisms available to you from the following agencies:

• School Nursing Service  www.healthforkids.co.uk (Interactive website for children and parents)
• Step2
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)
• School Family Worker
• Play Therapist

Parents/Carers - Support for You

At Oaklands, we believe it takes a village to raise children and nobody is born 'parent-ready'. We are also here to support you with any issues you may have. We can steer you towards relevant services and tools to ensure you access the support you may need.

You may find some of the following links of use:

Online resources to support Mental Health and Wellbeing can be found on the following websites:

NHS

5 ways to wellbeing animation

Healthy Young Minds in herts https://www.healthyyoungmindsinherts.org.uk/

Young Minds https://youngminds.org.uk/

Anna Freud https://www.annafreud.org/