Promoting mental health and well-being at St. Mary's

At St. Mary's, we promote mental and physical health and pupil well-being through a multidisciplinary team approach. We are proud of our family ethos and the importance of knowing every child and their family. We hold strongly the principle that good mental health is essential in order for children to access learning.

Having a member of the Extended Senior Leadership Team as Mental Health Lead was key to ensuring that emotional health and wellbeing is always part of school development plans and embedded in the school’s ethos.

Promoting Protected Characteristics at Mason Moor

We work to ensure that our children understand that:

THERE ARE NO OUTSIDERS AT ST. MARY'S

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT

WE CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES

WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN OUR DIFFERENCES

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

At St. Mary's, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos. We refer with staff to 'linking our thinking' and this takes place in different ways - through text choice in Reading and Writing, through PSHE, understanding and promoting other religions than those common in the community and through celebrating the diversity of families.

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

• When you are in the workplace
• When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)
• When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)
• When you use transport
• When you join a club or association (for example, our local rugby club)
• When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

Promoting well-being through the curriculum

The curriculum is the driver for improvement at St. Mary's. Through our bespoke curriculum, we teach and talk openly about significant people and their battles to overcome mental health barriers in order to succeed. For example: In our Art Curriculum, pupils become knowledgable about the life and times of artists such as LS Lowry - learning about the struggles he experienced through poverty and mental breakdown. In the book 'Wonder', read by our Y5 children, the concept of mental well-being is explored through the central character and their battle with Autism.

Well-being approaches at St. Mary's

The Senior Team have considered carefully the needs of the children at St. Mary's, we have built the following well-being offer to support every child:

• An ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) for each phase at the school. Our ELSA colleagues cover: social skills, emotions, bereavement, social stories and therapeutic stories, anger management, self-esteem, counselling skills such as solution focus and friendship. 
• Volunteer Mentorship for children requiring support to build effective relationships. Delivered through targeted group and individual interventions - these include 1:1 reading and gardening with a trusted adult.

St. Mary's School Foodbank

Established in March 2022, St. Mary's Foodbank is open to the families of every child registered at the school. The purpose is to provide a lifeline of support for those who are struggling. Requests are anonymous - we do not refer parents/carers to external agencies and we do not ask questions related to your personal circumstance or finances.

Parents/carers may ask for support via: office@stmaryspri.org.uk

A breakfast for EVERY child, EVERY day!

In March 2022, in conjunction with the 'National School Breakfast Programme', St. Mary's begun feeding every child (Year N to Year 6) a breakfast every day! We recognise the need for children to have that balanced diet and first stable meal of the day - after all, hungry children cannot learn!

At line-up children are offered a cooked bagel - with a choice of healthy topping - to eat as they go on their way to home class for registration.

At registration, pupils can choose between a choice of three cereals: shreddies, cornflakes and cheerios. Pupils are in charge of their breakfast - collecting a bowl, choosing cereal, eating this and then washing up. 

COUNSELLING - no limits 

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No Limits is a charity offering counselling, advocacy and support to children and young people under the age of 26 in Southampton and Hampshire.

Young people can come to No Limits for free support on a wide range of issues including housing, homelessness, debt, employment, relationships, sexual health, mental health and substance misuse.

St. Mary's commissions 5 hours weekly for 5 children over 6 week blocks. Over the year that equates to 30 children receiving 6 hours of trained counselling. 

Parents, carers, teachers and wider external colleagues can refer for counselling provision.