Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 will take place from 6-12 February 2023. This year’s theme is Let’s Connect. 

Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. 

For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we’re encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways. 

In school, teachers will be promoting good mental health using the activities available from Place2Be, as well as Rainbow Breathing and Yoga. Mrs Ford, our ELSA, will be available to children too.

Below is a video for you to watch:

“It’s okay not to be okay!”

At Lea C of E Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and well-being of our pupils and staff. We know and understand that everyone experiences challenges in life from time to time that can make us vulnerable; these challenges can often mean that our children may need additional emotional support. With this in mind, we aim to work as whole community to promote positive mental health amongst everyone in school. We are very lucky to have Mrs Ford - our  Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) - who works very closely with staff, children and parents to provide targeted support where necessary, ALWAYS with the agreement and involvement of parents.

“It’s good to talk!”

We also encourage emotional literacy amongst our children, modelled in weekly PSHE lessons and developed throughout all school of life. Children have opportunities to explore their emotions and are reminded to find trusted people to talk to when and if they need to. Worry boxes are also used in class, to provide a discreet means of children raising issues that concern them in a confidential way.

The Well-being and Emotional Support Team - Jess Knight (Herefordshire NHS mental health nurse)

At Lea, we are very lucky to have Jess from Herefordshire WEST who comes into school on a regular basis to talk to classes about mindfulness and well-being. With the input of class teachers and our ELSA, Mrs Ford, Jess also works 1:1 with individual children to support their mental health - such support is only ever given after discussion and agreement with parents.