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Wellbeing and School dog
Wellbeing statement
The wellbeing and safety of our children is our top priority at Barnes.
We want children to leave us at the end of Year 6 as resilient, emotionally intelligent and empathetic members of society. Our goal is to equip them with a thorough understanding of their own emotions and a robust tool kit of strategies to employ when times (as they will be) are difficult, sad or stressful. Our children are taught to take responsibility for their own mental, emotional, physical and digital well-being; to understand their rights but also their responsibilities and to think for themselves rather than succumb to peer pressure. They understand that mistakes and difficulty are part of life but that our own thinking is what shapes our response and determines our state of mind. At school we celebrate humour, kindness and determination. The children have clear and consistent ways to ask for help and advice when they need it.
If you have a concern about your child’s wellbeing, please speak to your Class Teacher in the first instance.
Polly Kelynack
is our Wellbeing Mentor. She works on a short term basis helping children with low level emotional difficulties. Children are referred to her via the Senior Leadership and Safeguarding teams. Where there is a higher level of concern she, in conjunction with parents, can refer to other services in the borough.
Helen Newman
is our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) practitioner. Helen works with children nominated by our Senior Leadership team and she also runs our Resilience groups.
Steve Alexander
is our MHST (Mental Health Support Team) Practitioner. MHST is a borough wide initiative to improve mental health and resilience in schools. Steve works with families where support is required and also with groups of children where there is a common need. He also runs coffee mornings for parents which will be advertised in our newsletters.
Herbie
We have our own therapy dog - Herbie.
Professional development is available to all staff from our PSHE lead on the curriculum and CPD (Continued Professional Development) on Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Our resilience groups for pupils develop coping strategies and emotional intelligence in small groups.
We have a self-referral Worry box for children which is checked and followed up by our Wellbeing Mentor.
We have an annual questionnaire for pupils, parents and staff.
We have a strong and effective culture of Wellbeing focused around a growth mindset and centering on our school values.
Shaping Us Centre for Early Childhood
During early childhood, from pregnancy to the age of five, our brains develop at an amazing rate – faster than at any other time in our lives. This is a really helpful guide raising awareness of this stage of child development and it’s impact on mental health.
A helpful app for managing anxiety.
A useful tool for developing emotional literacy.
Expert advice& practical tips.
Practical parenting advice.
Rebuilding lives when someone has died.
Safeguarding children and protecting their mental health.
Promoting children’s wellbeing.
Five ways to help with children’s wellbeing.
Introduction to Child and Adolescent Anxiety Workshop
The first of three pre-recorded workshops.
Some excellent resources to help children, young people and their families with their emotional wellbeing.
Parenting and Family Support.
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Wellbeing advice for all those supporting children and young people from early years foundation stage to Key Stage 2.
A resource which includes advice for parents on children and young people’s mental health.
Yoga, meditation and relaxation for children (and adults!).
Free guided mindfulness sessions and videos.
From iHASCO. It lists various different sources of information and recommends a number of ‘apps’ parents may find useful.
Growth Mindset Programme – the Emotional Health Service have developed a 10 week programme around growth mindset and resilience for parents and young people. Each pack is designed to be compatible to view on a computer, tablet or phone and there are worksheets to print if you would like to. However, you can also use it for inspiration and create your own activities
Week 5 Self Reflection and Goals
Week 7 Learning from failure and mistakes
In response to the increased focus and prioritisation of wellbeing education in primary schools and across Richmond Borough, we have been running these groups over the last 5 years. This forms part of our commitment as a school to supporting the children’s mental health and developing their ability to take on problems and setbacks with increased confidence.
The Resilience Group is a 4 session programme that we would like to put every child in the school through at some point in their time at Barnes. Each session is 45 minutes and they take place within the school day. The course is run by Helen Newman and equips children with an understanding of their own emotions and a tool kit of strategies to deal with problems that may arise for them. These are life skills that empower children in day- to -day life and increase their confidence when they come across situations that are difficult or challenging emotionally. Our aim is to create a positive, resilient mindset that we would like all of them to possess by the time they leave our school.
Each group usually consists of 4 children from KS2 who meet together for 4 weekly sessions. During that time, a range of ideas are explored through talk, interactive games and activities including:
- valuing individuality to boost self-esteem,
- identifying unique strengths and positive traits that can be drawn upon,
- developing a growth mindset to help when faced with challenges,
- sharing times when resilience has been needed and used, to learn from each other,
- thinking about and trying out some practical strategies to help in difficult situations.
The Resilience Groups have been extremely popular with many children asking to repeat the course. The sessions are relaxing and good fun and we have seen an enormous benefit, not only for the individuals attending but for the school as a whole.
At the beginning of each school year, staff nominate two children from each year group in KS2 to become our Wellbeing Champions. These are children that staff feel have demonstrated our key values of empathy, responsibility and integrity. These children will work with Polly, our Wellbeing Mentor, to promote our school values, present assemblies and play their part in supporting children across KS2 with their wellbeing.
Our Worry Box is situated outside the Deputy Headteacher's office in KS2.
KS2 children can self-refer to Polly, our Wellbeing Mentor using this box.
Only Polly will read their messages and will then come and find them to see if she can help. We encourage the children to problem solve themselves but if they have an ongoing worry Polly can be very helpful as a sounding board. Due to the nature of her job it can sometimes take a few days for Polly to come back to children but she will always follow up a note.
Our 8 values are the cornerstone of our children’s emotional education. It is very important to us that the values do not exist as a tick-box exercise, but that they are concepts that the children are able to to examine, observe and incorporate into their lives. For this reason all staff use the language and ideas behind each value on a consistent basis and children are rewarded for showing a particular value with a Values Band. These are not easy to attain and are coveted by the children. Seeing them on their own arms reinforces the words and meaning of each one and gaining all 8 is something for them to strive for by the time they finish KS2.
We find them very useful in dealing with behaviour, friendship issues and on a wider basis in their general learning.
Hi I’m Herbie.
I’m the school dog at Barnes Primary. My job is to help Polly look after all the children and notice when they are sad or worried. You will see me mainly in KS2 but I do sometimes visit KS1. I love visiting the different classrooms but Polly and I have our own room next to Year 6. This is good because my biscuits are in there. I’m allowed into assemblies and Miss Jepson’s office as long as I am quiet and well behaved.
I’m ready to help with any problem but sometimes I just like to sit quietly with someone until they feel better. A few children don’t like dogs and that is fine. If they let Polly know we will keep our distance.
My main hobbies outside school are chasing tennis balls and swimming. I’ve been at Barnes Primary for 7 years now. I first came to the school when I was 3 months old – have a look at my puppy picture. I’m a very lucky dog and I love my job.
