At Beeston Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable at times and we may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play.

In February 2018 Beeston Primary School was assessed and accredited to be a Mindmate Champion school (the highest available Mindmate category). This award recognises the highly effective provision in school that ensures our children are determined, resilient, caring, hard-working, brave and aspirational.

At our school we:

• help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
• help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• promote self-esteem and ensure children know that they count
• encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
• help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks

Over 50% of mental illnesses start before the age of 14 and 1 in 10 children and young people has a mental health disorder (Public Mental Health, 2019). Recent survey results found that the proportion of children experiencing a probable mental disorder has increased over the past three years, from one in nine in 2017 to one in six in July this year (NHS, 2020).

In school we offer different levels of support:

• Universal Support– To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum.
• Additional support– For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement or parents separation.
• Targeted support– For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as nurture groups or referral to the Beeston, Middleton and Cottingley Cluster for individual therapeutic support.

Lead staff members in school

• Mrs R. Wilkinson, Senior Inclusion Support Worker, is the school’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Lead and an accredited Mental Health First Aider.
• Mrs M. Whitaker, Inclusion Support Worker, and Mrs L. Leng, Inclusion Support Worker, are accredited Mental Health First Aiders for both children and staff.

Our school is wholly inclusive and we work hard to ensure all children have access to resources, provision and environments which support the development of their emotional literacy.

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This section of our website should provide lots of useful information to you. If there is more information or support you require on any aspect of looking after your own emotional wellbeing or mental health, or that of someone you know, please do not hesitate to contact the Inclusion Team in school on 0113 2716978 or by emailing ir@beestonprimary.org.

Useful websites:

https://www.mindmate.org.uk/
https://youngminds.org.uk/
https://www.mind.org.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
https://www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services-a-z/leeds-mental-wellbeing-service/home/
https://www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/camhs/home/

Partnership For Children…

Partnership For Children have also shared some excellent resources to support your families emotional wellbeing.
These activities are based on the programme we use in school to teach PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education). You can use them to help your child find healthy ways to deal with their feelings and reactions to the Covid-19 situation.
These Activities take around 10 minutes to complete and cover the following themes: feelings, staying connected, dealing with change, getting along, dealing with worries and relaxing. The activities are designed for children aged five to nine but can be adapted for younger or older children and include instructions for parents to complete the activities with their children. Please click on the links below to download.

Coping Toolbox
Creating a Routine
Worry Jar
Ways to feel better.
Staying connected
Feelings Chart
Feelings Diary
Dealing with change
Distraction Activities
Relaxation Activities

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Bereavement and Loss

Beeston Primary School is a community and any loss is felt by us all.

Bereavement is the experience of losing someone important to us. It is characterised by grief, which is the process and the range of emotions we go through as we gradually adjust to the loss. Losing someone important to us can be emotionally devastating – whether that be a partner, family member, friend or pet.

It is natural to go through a range of physical and emotional processes as we gradually come to terms with the loss. Bereavement affects everyone in different ways, and it’s possible to experience any range of emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

Feelings of grief can also happen because of other types of loss or changes in circumstances, for example:

• the end of a relationship
• the loss of a job
• moving away to a new location
• a decline in the physical or mental health of someone we care about

Please come and seek support in school if you or your family are struggling with any kind of grief or loss. Mrs Wilkinson, Senior Inclusion Support Worker, is a qualified SAD Events Practitioner and can be contacted by telephoning school on:

0113 2716978 or by emailing IR@beestonprimary.org. 

Please find below links and websites for useful information on bereavement and loss:

Mind UK

Winstons’s Wish

Leeds Bereavement Forum

Useful Websites

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/bereavement – Advice when supporting someone with autism cope with a death.

www.childbereavement.org.uk – Supports families and professionals when a child is bereaved or facing bereavement.

www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk – Childhood bereavement.

www.childline.org.uk – Free national telephone helpline for children and young people.

www.cruse.org.uk/ – All aspects of bereavement.

griefencounter.org.uk – Helps bereaved children & young people rebuild their lives.

www.hopeagain.org.uk – Specifically for young people aged 12-18. supportline.org.uk – Confidential emotional support for children, young people & adults.

www.papyrus-uk.org – Provides resources & support for those dealing with suicide, depression or distress – particularly teenagers & young adults.

www.seesaw.org.uk – Grief support service for children and young people.

www.sands.org.uk – Providing support for parents & families whose baby is stillborn or dies soon after birth.

www.teenissues.co.uk – Discussing the issues teenagers face.

www.facebook.com/theredlipstickfoundation.org/ – Support for families bereaved by suicide.

www.uk-sobs.org.uk – Those who are left behind after a suicide can be helped by talking to others who have experienced a similar loss.

www.Widowedandyoung.org.uk – peer-peer network for those widowed before their 51st birthday

Useful telephone numbers and addresses:

Winston’s Wish Family Line – 0845 2030405 – national helpline offering guidance, information and support to anyone caring for a bereaved child, including professionals and family members

Childhood Bereavement Network – 020 7843 6309 – a network of child bereavement services

Simon Says helpline (02380 647550)