Whole school approach for primary schools

Digital wellbeing (1 hour)

Young people are encouraged to learn ways to support their digital wellbeing. It supports with understanding how what they do online can impact how other people feel and understand how to recognise when they need time away from online activities.

Managing transitions from primary to secondary schools (1 hour)

This workshop explores the worries that year 6 pupils might have in a safe place when moving from primary to secondary schools. The workshop looks at useful skills and coping strategies alongside the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) cycle to support with resilience and responding to new challenges in a new environment.

Five ways to wellbeing (1 hour per session)

These workshops aim to support young people with their overall health and enabling opportunities for them to thrive and have a positive healthy attitude to their wellbeing. They include five separate workshops on the following topics; 'connect', 'be active', 'take notice', 'give' and 'keep learning'.

Understanding our worries (1 hour)

Young people will be supported in gaining a basic understanding of why we worry (including fight, flight, and freeze) and will be supported to understand the emotions cycle and think about ways to manage feelings of worry.

Celebrating diversity

Our staff can support schools in celebrating diversity, for example, see the MHST offer for supporting staff in school led workshops.

Team of Life (1 hour)

This is a strength-based approach using narrative therapy. Using the language of sport, the Team of Life invites young people to identify key support people or ‘team mates’ in their lives. This builds resilience by enabling them to build a sense of social support and connected identity.

Wellbeing Ambassador programme (time varies)

The practitioner will attend a whole school assembly, sharing the programme with the school community and recruiting ambassadors (from years 4, 5 and 6). This is followed by a 3-week/session workshop, where wellbeing ambassadors complete training workshops with the MHST alongside the school's wellbeing ambassador leads. Once the training is complete, they will meet with the school staff at least once every half term to help co-produce the whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Friendships (1 hour)

Friendships are explored with the young person by looking at what makes a good friend, including the characteristics of a good friend, different types of friendships, respecting friendships and their values and opinions. Working together, the workshop supports them to think about how they can be good friends, overcome difficulties and make new friends.

Digital wellbeing (1 hour)

Young people are encouraged to learn ways to support their digital wellbeing. It supports with understanding how what they do online can impact how other people feel and understand how to recognise when they need time away from online activities.

Some of these workshops can take place either online or face to face. 

Introduction to MHST (1 hour)

A brief introduction to explore what the MHST is, by enabling parents to develop an understand of what the Mental Health Support Team is, gain a greater understanding of what mental health is and to understand the types of referrals that are accepted by sharing the MHST referral process.

Understanding and supporting my child with worries (1 hour)

This workshop will focus on what anxiety is and what keeps anxiety going. There will the opportunity to look at ways to manage worry and anxiety in young people and how parents can support them to manage anxiety.

How to support my child when they feel low in mood (1 hour)

This workshop supports parents in developing their understanding of what low mood is, how it can be presented, how it can impact on the daily lives of a young person and what keeps this going. We will equip parents with self-help strategies and enable parents to know when and how to seek further help.

Managing transitions from primary to secondary schools (1 hour)

This workshop explores the worries that year 6 pupils and parents might have when moving from primary to secondary schools. The workshop looks at useful skills and coping strategies alongside the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) cycle to support with resilience and responding to new challenges in a new environment.

Thrive workshop (1 hour)

This workshop has been co-produced with parents to look at ways to build resilience in young people, recognise what to look out for, and give ideas on talking to their child about mental health and who to speak to if they need more help.

Understanding children’s behaviour (1.5 hours)

This workshop is designed to help parents to understand their child’s behaviour and troubleshoot ways to manage challenging behaviours. Information is provided on young people’s behaviour and developmental context. Strategies are shared, aimed to strengthen relationships between parents, carers and young people.

Screen time and my child’s mental health and wellbeing (1.5 hours)

This workshop aims to consider ways in which online screen time can be helpful, how it can be harmful and strategies to support families in managing this.

Coffee mornings (1 hour)

This is a space for parents to meet with members of the MHST to learn more about who we are, what we offer, and how they can access us. 

Introduction to MHST (1 hour)

A presentation for school staff to gain a greater understanding of the MHST service and what can be offered to students, parents, carers, and school staff. It covers the aims and ambitions of the MHST initiative, who is in the MHST, an overview of groups and one-to-one interventions, as well as a detailed look at the whole school approach offer, developed to meet the school’s identified needs.

Understanding low mood (1 hour)

A workshop to explore low mood and enable staff to enrich their knowledge base further. Strategies will also be shared to help schools support their young people.

Anxiety awareness (1 hour)

This workshop is designed to give an insight into the types of behaviours noticed in the classroom that relate to an anxiety presentation. It will explore what more schools can do to support anxious children in this environment. The workshop will explore what may keep anxiety going and with gaining a greater understanding of anxiety, look at some brief strategies to manage and reduce anxiety.

Reflective practice (1 hour)

Reflective practice is a learning process and space in which peer groups are supported to come together in a safe, confidential space to share and explore challenges and successes encountered within their job roles. This could provide:

• structured, purposeful conversations
• validation of challenges and feelings encountered
• opportunity for problem-solving conversations
• time and space for staff to discuss their own professional strengths and areas for development
• reflections on the emotional impact of their work
• an underpinning agreement / contract between members which outlines boundaries
• an ‘external’ facilitator to support establishing and embedding the process

Understanding the eight principles of WSA

As set out by The Department for Education, a WSA to mental health and wellbeing incorporates eight key principles, which when applied consistently will contribute and promote improved mental health and wellbeing for the school community. This workshop will offer guidance to help you understand how you can support your school in achieving the learning outcomes aligned to the eight principles.

Wellbeing Ambassador (WBA) staff lead training (1 hour)

This session is part of a MHST WBA project offered to schools. Upon completion of an overview, schools are asked to liaise with their link practitioner and plan/facilitate the whole staff training session as the next step to completing the WBA project. School staff will complete an audit of the five ways to wellbeing school (a short exercise, highlighting what school are already do well and identifying areas to focus on).