Children's Mental Health

At Pakefield Primary School we ensure children learn about their mental health, what this is, means, how and where to get help. But also, how to help themselves. This is even more important after the last year and a half, as our children and ourselves, have had a big change in the way we live our everyday lives due to COVID. The impact of this may affect us all for several years and here at Pakefield, we want to ensure our children and families have the best knowledge and tools to help them achieve and maintain good mental health and know how and where they can get help if they need it. This will allow our children to fully thrive and achieve their ambitions.

This year we are relaunching our CHIMP program. Children’s Health is Mental and Physical. With a focus each half term, this will allow children to develop their understanding and knowledge of mental health and learn about a range aspects that negatively impact on this. Children will also learn skills to support their mental health and where they can get information if they are struggling.

We worked together with our ALT North Suffolk family of schools, (Red Oak Primary School , Westwood Primary, Albert Pye Primary, Ravensmere Infants, Grove Primary and Reydon Primary School), and children from the school councils helped to devise the CHIMP program which helps to create a positive lifestyle approach that supports our mental health and well being.

We decided what was of most importance and these are the key areas that we believe are key to supporting good mental health and well being:

Emotions
Sleep
Physical activity
Eat and drink healthily
Screen time
Talk time and positive interactions
Managing positive friendships
Hobbies

As a school we will be working on these over the year through circle time, assemblies and within our daily curriculum offer. Throughout the year we will also have awareness days or weeks where more focus will be placed on mental health. #HelloYellow was a big success and children enjoyed a range of activities focusing on what mental health is and our emotions.

The Mental Health Lead for curriculum and learning is – Mrs Sarah Gow

The Mental Health Lead for Pastoral Support is – Mrs Jill Stafford

We have four qualified children's Mental Health First Aiders, these are:

Mr Payne
Mrs Carman
Mrs Bacon
Miss C Gooch

If you would like any further information, please speak to Miss Creasey or Mrs Rodwell, or alternatively take a look at the following website.

What is mental health?

This video helps parents and school staff explain what mental health is to children.

Here are a range of books that may be useful to support conversations at home. If you would like further information, please make an appointment to speak to Mrs Carman or Mr Payne.

wellbeing booklist.pdf

psychology in schools parent workshop poster september december 2023.pdf

childhood neurodiversity pst workshops oct 2023 jan 2024 1 .pdf

under 18s wellbeing l2 workshop poster september december 2023 .pdf

Our Point 1 emotional wellbeing service offers professional mental health support to infants, children and young people experiencing emotional problems and early signs of mental ill-health. Run in partnership with MAP and Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, the service is available to any child or young person living in Norfolk or Waveney, or registered with a Norfolk of Waveney GP. Point 1 is accessed by parents through the point 1 website.

Young Minds are committed to improving children's wellbeing and mental health. Discover information, advice & support for young people affected by mental health. Empowering Young People.

If you're worried about a child or need advice and support for coping with anything affecting your child's emotional or mental health, there are different ways to seek help.