Mental Health & Wellbeing at Our Lady Queen of Peace

At Our Lady Queen of Peace fostering positive relationships and offering a caring and nurturing environment as the ‘small school with the big heart’, is the key for us to creating a safe space for people where they can be their true selves.
 

Mental Health & Wellbeing at Our Lady Queen of Peace

We have two mental health first aiders in school. You will see them on our school gate with Teddy and may spend time with them in 'The Hub' make sure to say good morning and start our day on a positive.

What we do

As a school there are lots of initiatives we implement to ensure we promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all our children.

• Children start each day by checking in on Mood tracker to record how they are feeling, this allows us to intervene immediately should someone need support.

• OLQP has a number of ambassadors known a ‘The Wellbeing Warriors’ who take on the responsibility of promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across our school. They are easily identified by their rainbow lanyards. 
• The Hub is a safe space where children can go should they need some support, or time to reflect. It provides therapeutic services such as Art therapy & Lego therapy. Social stories are used to support children in understanding their feelings and those of others. 

• Our OLQP Birthday box ensures all our pupils get the opportunity to celebrate their birthday in school. They get to chose a gift of their choice from the Birthday Box, receive a card and celebrate with cake in class on a Friday.
   

Social And Emotional Well-Being

• Many children throughout their time in school need extra support for their emotional and social development.  This may occur as a result of a child’s SEN or as a result of circumstances outside of the school environment.
• Intensive support is always planned on an individual basis and we work closely with parents/carers and other professionals to offer the most appropriate pastoral support.
• We take all concerns regarding bullying seriously.  Regular assemblies help children to understand what ‘bullying’ is and to ensure all children are aware that our school is a ‘telling school’.  The earlier we know about a problem then the sooner it can be resolved. 

Specialist Services And Expertise Available In Our School

We work closely with a wide range of health and educational professionals, including:                                               

Educational Psychologist                      CAMHS

The editor of mental health supporting educational guides, featured in the Guardian and the Telegraph,  recently collaborated with the Action for Children and The Children's Society and conducted a survey with Primary School parents in the area regarding their children's mental health.  

The results were alarming.  Despite many parents understanding that their children are suffering from anxiety or worrying about school - over 80% of these parents said they weren't sure how to help their children. 

They have just published The Expert Parent's Guide to Childhood Anxiety, aimed at supporting parents and their children whilst allowing them to focus on what matters most - attending school to learn, and maintaining good mental health!  

Click on the link below to find out more.