Skip to content ↓

Proud to be part of

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Moral Purpose

All staff at Benjamin Adlard School are committed to making a difference to the lives of our young people and community. We teach and promote resilience to allow all children to manage everyday challenges and stresses, as well as being aspirational in the care and expectations for children to reach their full potential, despite difficulties they may face. We also ensure strategies and skills are taught to all children to allow them to begin to approach challenges independently before seeking further help. These are a reflection of the schools core values and curriculum intent.

Our moral purpose can therefore be summarised below:

  • Aspiration
  • Independence
  • Resilience

Mental Health Definition

Mental health is a state of wellbeing which the individual realises their own abilities, can cope with usual stresses of life, can work productively and they are able to make a contribution to their community.

What supporting positive mental health means to us:

  • The child stays at the centre of every conversation.
  • We prioritise those who need our help most, but we promote positive mental health with everyone.
  • We embed social, emotional and mental health awareness across the curriculum
  • Children have opportunities to have conversations surrounding mental health
  • Children and young people are taught skills to build resilience and manage everyday stressors
  • Staff wellbeing, resilience and mental health is a key focus
  • We have a highly trained Pastoral Team who lead on evidence-based practice for all our interventions.

How we ensure best practice:

  • Notes are kept up to date.
  • Staff read and understand section one of Keeping Young people Safe in Education.
  • Staff know our behaviour, SEMH, and safeguarding policies.
  • All staff understand what mental health in our school is and the protocols to when concerns arise.
  • Intervention pathways are followed
  • The wider school community has an active voice about SEMH.
  • We monitor SEMH interventions and adjust where necessary
  • All staff have training on how best to support SEMH
  • Speaking to each other with courtesy, respect and empathy is essential.

Mental Health practice in our school:

  • PSHE curriculum units specifically teach mental health and wellbeing
  • ‘Time for me’ sessions each week focus on strategies following the 5 ways to wellbeing
  • Themed weeks based on national events such as Children’s mental health week.
  • A wellbeing committee to ensure best practice for staff wellbeing
  • Regular meetings and training with the Mental Health Support Team in Gainsborough
  • Workshops and extra curriculum activities with outside agencies
  • Support materials and information sent out to parents/carers and staff

We off a provision pathway to meet the needs of all children:

Universal Support- To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum.

Classroom targeted support- For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement. These needs can be met through classroom provisions.  

In house intervention- For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as wellbeing groups or personal mentors.

Specialist support- For children who require specialist support from outside agencies such as the Mental Health Support Team and our student counsellor.

Please see our Mental Health provision pathway for specific support and interventions we offer.

Lead staff members:

Jade Truswell (Mental health and wellbeing lead, PSHE lead)

Jo Richardson (Pastoral lead)

Lynn Whelan (Lead First Aider)

Luke Lovelidge (Headteacher)

Debbie Glover (SENDCO)

Wellbeing committee:

Jade Truswell, Jo Richardson, Luke Lovelidge, Holly Anderson, Lynn Whelan, Pam Marshall