Pupil Wellbeing

At Boughton-under-Blean and Dunkirk Methodist Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We are extremely proud to have achieved the Kent Wellbeing and Resilience Award. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive wellbeing is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play. 

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

We offer different levels of support:

Universal Support- To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance, developing resilience for all.

Additional support- For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement. 

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

Lead staff members:

Mrs Jo Cottenden- Deputy Head, Youth MHFA Trained, Senior Mental Health Lead

Laura Jakob- Family Liaison Officer, Youth MHFA trained, Registered member of the BACP

Mr Simon Way- Headteacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss Samatha Holness- EYFS/KS1 Lead

Mrs Debbie Munro- KS2 Lead

Mrs Kerry Petts- Lead governor for wellbeing

 

We now have a policy for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Please click below to view this.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy

 

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NEWS!

Children's Mental Health Week 2024

We celebrated this on Monday 5th February- 9th February. The theme for this year was 'My Voice Matters'. Each class completed activities throughout the week based on this theme. Our ABAs planned for and ran lunchtime activities for the children across both KS1 and KS2.  We wore our own clothes on Friday in our favourite colours to encourage us to express ourselves. On the Friday afternoon each class had a wellbeing aftrenoon completing a variety of activities with their classmates and adults.

Wellbeing Week May 2023

We celebrated this on Monday 15th May - Friday 19th May. All classes have completed a huge range of activities to support their wellbeing including chalk drawings, work on friendships, paying compliments, expressing ourselves as well as work on how we can feel calm. The children have been taught different breathing techniques, the power of getting out in nature and finding activities that make us feel calm and relaxed. The children even got a chance to try out something new such as cooking or playing lacrosse.

Kent Resilience and Emotional Wellbeing Award April 2023

We are really pleased to announce that we have received an award to recognise all of the work we have done as a school to promote mental health and wellbeing. We now have a lovely plaque to display proudly. We are just one of approximately 60 schools in Kent to receive this. Please download the letter below to find out more about this. We asked some parents for thier views as part of this. Their responses can be downloaded below.

Kent Award for Resilience and Emotional Wellbeing

Parent Comments for Award

Term 4 Wellbeing Activities 2023

During T4 we decided that classes would undertake timetabled wellbeing activities weekly. The children enjoyed exploring different ways to feel calm and relaxed including breathing techniques, tapping, yoga, meditation, art activities and getting out in nature.

Children's Mental Health Week February 2023

We celebrated this on Monday 6th February -Friday 10th February. The theme this year was 'Let's Connect'. We invited the children to 'Dress to Express' on Friday 10th when they came to school in non-uniform in colours that make them happy. Some of our Y5 and 6 pupils created a pamphlet filled with wellbeing quotes. Our newsletter and pamphlet is available to download below.

Children's Mental Health Week Newsletter

Wellbeing Quotes Pamphlet

Wellbeing Week 2022

Monday 16th May- Friday 20th May

The theme of the week was ‘5 ways to wellbeing’, focussing on ways we can all make small changes to increase our physical and mental wellbeing. Photos and information about the activities the children completed are in the Wellbeing Week Newsletter and on our school Facebook page.

When we have a positive view of ourselves it can help us to cope with life’s challenges, and recognising the different qualities of others can allow us to connect with those around us – which is vital for our own and others’ wellbeing. Please take a look at our Wellbeing Week newsletter in the link below.

Wellbeing Week 2022

Senior Mental Health Lead 17th March 2022

Mrs Cottenden has now completed her training with Anna Freud, a course funded by a grant from the DfE.

Wellbeing Report to FGB 7th March 2022

Mrs Cottenden presented to the governors about our recent staff training and asked for a lead governor to be appointed. Mrs Kerry Petts agreed to undertake this role.

NSPCC Speak Out, Stay Safe November 2021

The children joined Ant and Dec for learning about what to do if they feel worried or unsafe.

Staff Development Day 21st February 2022

Mrs Cottenden led whole staff training on the signs and symptoms of poor mental health. The staff were encouraged to reflect on how we already support pupils in school and to consider our next steps. The staff also had an opportunity to reflect on things they do to support their own wellbeing. The staff completed a staff wellbeing questionnaire.

Place2Be Mental Health Champions Training March/April 2021

Twelve members of staff undertook an online training course in their own time about mental health and how to support pupils in school.

Staff Development Day 24th February 2021

Mrs Cottenden and Laura led a training session for all staff about children’s mental health and how to support pupils in school.

Youth Mental Health First Aid 22nd January 2020

Mrs Cottenden had now completed her Youth Mental First Aid training. This now means that both Laura and Mrs Cottenden are fully trained.

#HelloYellow 10th October 2019

On Thursday 10th October we will all be wearing a yellow item of clothing to school to celebrate World Mental Health Day. The children will all be learning about ways to improve their wellbeing.

Children’s Wellbeing Week 2019– ‘Looking After Ourselves’

Monday 10th- Friday 14th June 2019

Boughton-under-Blean and Dunkirk Methodist Primary School are excited to be Championing our own Wellbeing week, in June 2019. The theme of the week will be ‘looking after ourselves’, focussing on ways we can all make small changes to increase our physical and mental wellbeing, who we have to talk to if we are not happy or worried and the opening of our Wellbeing Room, for every child to access.

When we have a positive view of ourselves it can help us to cope with life’s challenges, and recognising the different qualities of others can allow us to connect with those around us – which is vital for our own and others’ wellbeing.

 

If you feel that your child needs some support with their mental health and wellbeing, please speak to someone from the school’s wellbeing team. For further information about available support, advice and information, please click on the links below.