The Wellbeing Award for Schools
Here at Sunnybrow Primary School we value the health and wellbeing of our children and staff. We believe that wellbeing is of central importance to learning and attainment, with high levels of wellbeing associated with improved academic outcomes. We believe that every child should be supported to reach their full potential; to make progress and succeed and this is the driving force behind every policy we write, lesson that we teach and interaction we have with our children. We understand that the wellbeing of our children is affected by the wellbeing of the adults they interact with, therefore it is essential that we help protect and promote the emotional health and wellbeing of each and every member of our school community.
We believe having a mentally healthy community is not about being happy all the time, but about working together through the challenges and sharing the celebrations; feeling supported, heard, accepted, valued and empowered.
Over the last few years, we have been on a journey to develop our provision for supporting positive social, emotional and mental health within our school community, and as part of that on-going journey, we are delighted to announce that we have signed up to the Wellbeing Award for Schools (which is developed in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau). By signing up to this award, we hope to further develop our work in promoting positive well-being and mental health for the whole school community and gain accreditation for the work we have already done.
What is our Why?
Why is Sunnybrow Community working towards the Wellbeing Award for Schools?
• We have a passion to make a difference.
• We are aiming to increase awareness of mental health and wellbeing, embedding a culture of resilience, acceptance and understanding.
• We are creating a shared vision of collective responsibility for mental health – one that enriches our own lives as well as those around us.
• Knowing that contributing helps the Sunnybrow community ensure all voices are felt heard, however it is expressed or communicated.
• Support and confidence on the journey with our mental health and wellbeing, to ensure it is accessible to all.
• To have a platform that keeps developing and refining tools of communication and accountability for our community’s mental health and wellbeing.
About the Award
There are eight objectives to achieve within the Well-being Award Framework, containing several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set out within each. The award focuses on ensuring effective practice and provision is in place that promotes the emotional well-being and mental health of both staff and pupils. The award will enable us to develop these practices where necessary and help us to ensure that well-being is embedded in the long-term culture of our school. It will help us to create an ethos where mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all.
With this award, we will demonstrate our commitment to:
• Promoting mental health as part of every day school life
• Improving the emotional well-being of our staff and pupils
• Ensuring mental health problems are identified early and appropriate support provided
• Offering provision and interventions that matches the needs of our pupils and staff
• Promoting the importance of mental health awareness
• Capturing the views of parents, pupils and teachers on mental health issues
What we believe Mental Health and Wellbeing looks like for our Sunnybrow School Community:
• Sunnybrow community is responsive and flexible to everybody’s needs.
• There is no stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing in our Sunnybrow Community. We actively acknowledge that ‘it’s okay to not be okay’.
• We feel safe and are able to express how we feel without feeling judged. We acknowledge that a ‘voice’ comes in many forms, not just spoken and we seek to understand each other.
• We are able to seek help and receive and use strategies when feeling and dealing with difficult emotions.
• We know there is a spectrum of emotions and mental health, and that this can change at different times and situations.
• We acknowledge that mental health and wellbeing is a shared experience: Sometimes we are the ones who need shelter and at other times we are the ones holding the umbrella.
Our whole-school strategy for supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Following an analysis of parent, pupil and staff questionnaires (sent out last academic year) and an audit of current provision, we have now created our whole-school strategy for developing provision for emotional wellbeing and mental health for this academic year.
To read more click here Our whole-school strategy
Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2023.docx
Our Wellbeing Strategy: Part One
As one of the priorities for emotional wellbeing and mental health in school this year, we want to increase awareness across the whole-school community. We have now created our new campaign ‘Five Ways to Shine’. It has been created in conjunction with the School Council and the charity ‘One Step at a Time’, and focuses on highlighting five key ways for everyone to actively improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Here is a copy of the PowerPoint (created by the School Council) that was used to launch the campaign in assembly with staff and children.
Click here to view the PDF of the PowerPoint 5 ways to shine
Our Wellbeing Strategy: Part Two
For part two of our strategy, we wanted to create a clear pathway for supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health in school. We have created a SEMH provision guide which is a ‘one-stop’ guide to everything you might need to know about SEMH in Sunnybrow Primary School. it is designed to be used by parents, school staff and might be useful for some of our older children too.
Please read our guide to Social, Emotional and Mental Health provision in school here SEMH Pathway and Provision Guide
Wellbeing Champions
Our Wellbeing Champions, including our School Council have been appointed to help us deliver our ‘5 ways to shine’ campaign.
Online information, services and support
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/
Wellbeing Verification
We are proud to announce that we have gained the Wellbeing Award for Schools.
WAS – Sunnybrow Primary School
