At Alfred Lord Tennyson School we are committed to supporting the positive mental health and wellbeing of our whole school community (children, staff, parents and carers). We recognise that mental health and emotional wellbeing are just as important to our lives as physical health.
We endeavour to ensure that our children are able to manage times of change and stress. We aim to ensure that they are supported to reach their potential and to access help when they need it. We also have a role in ensuring that children learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where they can go if they need help or support.
On this part of our website you will be able to gain an understanding of how we support our children with learning about how to look after their mental health and the importance we place on wellbeing, as well as accessing a number of resources that you may find useful.
At Alfred Lord Tennyson we have a Designated Senior Leader for Mental Health – Mrs Appleby - and Student Wellbeing Ambassadors.
If you have any questions about the mental health or wellbeing of your child/children or would like to know more about anything posted here, please get in touch via the school office.
In school, we support children’s mental health through:
- Calming classrooms
- Exciting learning opportunities
- Strong positive relationships with staff
- A behaviour policy built on a relational approach
- Teaching of personal, social, health and relationships education (including online safety)
- Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) interventions, such as Lego therapy, friendship groups and managing emotions
- Helping children to be resilient learners and to manage setbacks
- Accessing external support when needed such as MHST
- Supporting and training staff to develop their skills and their own resilience
- Developing an open culture where it’s normal to talk about mental health
- Mental Health and Wellbeing in our Curriculum
Learning about mental health and wellbeing is integrated into our curriculum.
In Science our children learn about nutrients in foods and what healthy eating looks like. In PE they learn about the importance of 60 active minutes.
Our PSHE curriculum includes learning in each year group about:
- Being me in my world
- Celebrating differences
- Dreams and goals
- Healthy me
- Relationships and changing me
Mental Health Weeks at ALTS
In addition to this area being embedded within our curriculum, we have bespoke weeks at Alfred Lord Tennyson where there are additional learning opportunities surrounding mental health and wellbeing. These are planned to be in line with national mental health weeks—e.g. during Children's Mental Health week.
Support services
If you are in crisis and your mental health is suffering, you might need urgent support and treatment.
Working with the Mental Health Support Team
We work closely with our area Mental Health Support Team (MHST) with fortnightly consultations and termly area network meetings attended by our Senior Mental Health Lead.
How to Support your Child’s Mental Health
Talking is always a good place to start. Talk to your child about how they are feeling to find out more. Talk to your GP if you are worried that your child’s mental health might need additional support.
There are things we can do in school to help too. Speak to Mrs Appleby our Inclusion and Senior Mental Health Lead if you would like to know more about the support we can offer.