Wellbeing
At Thurcroft Junior Academy, wellbeing is considered within all areas of the curriculum and is visible within the learning environment. This enables our pupils to feel confident, express their emotions, build good relationships, live productively, cope with changes and develop resilience. We monitor all aspects of well-being and respond to individual and environmental challenges. Parent wellbeing is supported holistically by our school ethos and inclusion team.
We hold assemblies with a wellbeing focus and support and celebrate events including Children's Mental Health Week. We ensure all our pupils know that if they need support or help with their emotions they can talk to a member of staff in school or their parents or carers at home.
We provide additional resources and links for both children and parents and carers.
Each year, we take part in #Hello Yellow and raise money for Young Minds. This annual event is an opportunity for our academy and the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health.
This year for world mental health day we designed our own super heroes and comic strips with focus of having a super power to help support your or someone else’s mental health.
This year, all pupils in school have taken part in the NSPCC campaign, speak out, stay safe and UKS2 have taken part in addition workshops which have been delivered by the NSPCC volunteers.
Below is a document that include hyperlinks to organisations that can support with mental health challenges.
10 Ways to Find Support with Children and Young People's Mental Health
You may also find the following websites useful:
Sleep
Having a regular sleep pattern and getting a good night’s sleep is excellent for our mental health and wellbeing. Here are some tips to get a good night’s sleep:
- Relax before bedtime – try and come off all electronic devices for at least an hour before bed.
- Try and do some exercise. Exercise releases positive endorphins which make us feel good, and it will also make us tired ready for a good night’s sleep
- If a worry, thought or something you need to remember pops into your head at bedtime, write it down on a piece of paper and deal with it the next day. There is not much you can do about things at bedtime and these thoughts will only interrupt your sleep. Get them out of your head, and on to the paper then you can get a good night’s sleep and ready to take on the next day.
Loneliness
Loneliness has had a big impact on people, especially over the past couple of years. Our connections with people are an excellent way to help protect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. We can all play a part in helping to reduce loneliness. We can all do our part to combat loneliness:
- If you are feeling lonely it might be a good idea to keep a journal. This can help you understand your feelings better and notice any patterns or triggers.
- Get involved with something you enjoy. Finding people who have similar interests to you can really help. We can help you find clubs or activities to join.
- Check in with your friends and family. Send them a text, give them a ring, see if they want to do something.
- Be kind, listen and be supportive to people around you. If you are worried about someone, ask for help.
WMIM
WMIM is With me in Mind, an NHS service supporting schools and young people in Rotherham with Mental Health. It includes advice for both children and parents and carers on a range of topics including anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and sleep. If you are concerned about your child/young person, then please do get in touch.
Young Minds
The Young Minds website has a section for parents/carers on ways to support young people, as well as a section on exam stress which is important for many of our young people.