Dear Parents/Guardians,
We wish to take the opportunity to share some information from the Department of Education regarding World Mental Health Day which was celebrated this week. Please find attached a wide variety of support services available to assist various aspects of emotional health and wellbeing.
Here at Good Shepherd Primary & Nursery school, emotional health and wellbeing is an important aspect of our provision. Please find attached our Emotional Health and Wellbeing Policy which also details a wide range of support groups and networks. Also in our 'Parents Area' of our school website is a wide variety of information which aims to support our school community. Parents/Guardians are welcome to come and speak to a memeber of staff if they need to. Please contact the school office to arrange a suitable time.
Alongside our policy are a range of practices to promote Emotional Health and Well Being...here are just a few...
- A broad and balanced curriculum which aims to meet the needs of all our learners;
- Access to a wide range of extra curricular clubs to develop interests, skills and talents;
- The promotion of healthy lifestyle choices as well as active travel;
- Outdoor play;
- A warm welcoming school ethos where children are treated with respect and dignity and where their views are valued and their comments taken seriously;
- Peer mentoring with a Buddy system and Y7 support for Nursery pupils;
- A School Council/Eco Council and Digital Leaders with elected membership;
- Assemblies which celebrate pupil achievements;
- Relax kids in our Nursery;
- A wide range of sports coaching;
- We walk the Daily Mile every day;
- Musical Pathways to learning P1-P3;
- Delivery of the Neuronimo Programme;
- A whole school system of rewards for individuals and classes; positive reward charts, pupil of the week, star of the week etc…
- Friendship benches and friendship stops;
- Anti-bullying week;
- The Preventative Curriculum (PDMU/Circle-time/WAU,RE,RSE)
Our Safeguarding and Child Protection/Pastoral Care team includes:
- Designated Teacher for Child Protection: Mrs Maria Harley
- Deputy Designated Teacher for Child Protection: Mrs Suzann McCafferty
- Chair of the Board of Governors: Mr Philip Duffy
- Designated Governor for Child Protection: Dr Michael Gormley
All pastoral concerns are recorded in class pastoral books. The team supports children through a whole school system which includes the preventative curriculum within (RSE, PDMU, RE and WAU). This provides a structure for the range of pastoral interventions available in school, including:
- Access to school councillor through the Happy Healthy Minds fund (which is now shortly ending due to funding);
- Pupils’ Comments/Suggestion Boxes;
- Who I can talk to posters (visible around the school);
- Child-line information including phone numbers;
- In-class group/individual support; and,
- Multi-agency involvement as required - including our Educational Welfare Officer, Educational Psychology, Social Services (Family & Child Care Team), the Education Authority REACH Programme, WEST, Autism Advisory Service, Literacy Support, the Behaviour Support Team, Clooney Family Centre, EOTAS, CAMHS, the School Nurse and our local Health Visitor.
We actively promote the support that can be provided by a range of agencies.
Regards,
Mrs S. McCafferty
