At Medway Community Primary School, we are committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for all our pupils and staff.

We recognise that children and adults can experience challenges at different times in their lives. Sometimes these can affect how we feel, learn, behave and cope with everyday life. We believe that mental health and wellbeing is everybody’s responsibility, and that early identification and the right support can make a real difference.

Our approach is inclusive and considers wellbeing alongside other factors that may affect a pupil’s access, participation and learning. 

You can find the school's policies here.

At our school, we:

• help children recognise, understand and talk about their emotions
• encourage children to share worries or concerns with a trusted adult
• support children to build positive friendships and relationships
• promote confidence, self-esteem and a sense of belonging
• celebrate individuality and encourage children to be themselves
• teach strategies for managing emotions, challenges and setbacks
• develop resilience, independence and positive coping strategies
• identify emerging needs and provide additional support where appropriate

This complements Medway's wider approach to assessing wellbeing and providing pastoral support as part of inclusive provision. 

Our Levels of Support

Universal support
Support available to all pupils through our school ethos, relationships, curriculum and everyday classroom and pastoral practice. This includes developing emotional literacy, resilience, positive relationships and strategies for managing feelings.

Additional support
Short-term or additional support for children experiencing a particular difficulty or change in circumstances, such as anxiety, friendship difficulties, family change or bereavement.

Targeted support
More individualised or structured support for pupils with identified emotional or wellbeing needs. This may include targeted interventions, wellbeing work, mentoring, individual plans or support from external professionals where appropriate.

Where additional provision is required, Medway's wider provision framework expects the identified need, intended outcome, delivery and impact to be reviewed rather than measuring participation alone. 

Lead Staff

• Steven Williams, Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Sarah Niner, Senior Mental Health Lead
• Sian Elton, Wellbeing Champion
• Paulette Pemberton, Anti-Bullying Lead
• Martyn Atkinson, Attendance Officer and Pastoral
• Rene Duda, Attendance and Pastoral 

Worried About Your Child?

If you are worried about your child's emotional wellbeing or mental health, please speak to your child's class teacher or a member of the wellbeing or safeguarding team.

We can discuss your concerns, consider what support may help in school and, where appropriate, work with you to identify further advice or support.

Useful Links

NHS Every Mind Matters
Information and practical advice to support mental health and wellbeing.

Mentally Healthy Schools
Information, advice and resources supporting children's mental health and wellbeing.