Mental Health and Wellbeing

Trewirgie Junior School is a Mentally Healthy School that adopts a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Article 24 of the UNCRC states that all children have the right to good health and this includes mental health. We recognise the importance of good mental health order for staff, children and their families  to flourish.

We understand that good mental health helps children to learn and explore the world, feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions, cope with and manage uncertainty and develop and thrive. Wellbeing Policy

Our Wellbeing Team

Mr Wills, Wellbeing Champion, Mental Health Lead TIS practitioner & Deputy DSL & Attendance Lead.	Mrs Hodson, Headteacher Designated Safeguarding lead, Headteacher	Mr Voisey, SENDCo, Deputy DSL, CIC, Medical Behaviour lead & Online Safety lead.		Miss Wills, Wellbeing Champion, Counsellor & TIS Practitioner.
	Miss Solomon Year 5 & 6 Wellbeing Champion	Mrs Devenny Year 4 Wellbeing Champion

The curriculum 

Our curriculum is designed to encourage children to learn through exploration and questioning. This approach requires children to develop resilience. We encourage children to ‘make mistakes’ in their learning. This not lonely helps them to learn better but enables them to develop greater resilience, essential for good mental health. We have a range of amazing books to support children. Here is a list of them here. 

PSHE

The school’s PSHE curriculum is one where children are encouraged to question and explore. This open approach encourages children to be ask questions and be reflective. Mental Health is taught explicitly as part of our curriculum.

Rights Respecting

As a GOLD Rights Respecting School children are taught about inequalities and rights and how to have a voice for change. These principles are at the heart of our practice and support children’s personal development and wellbeing.

Learning to Learn

Our school’s six learning to learn skills are also at the heart of children’s learning. One of these, citizenship, explicitly supports children to develop resilience and through this, good mental health.  

The Arts

The Arts are a vibrant part of our school. In addition to the skills that children learn, Dance, Art and Music offer children a vital outlet for their emotions. The Arts are a non-verbal outlet for children to be able to express themselves. It has been scientifically proven that drawing, painting and dance can help people to deal with different kinds of trauma. The Arts help you to express experiences that are too difficult to put into word. These subjects have a very positive impact on children’s metal health,

Trauma Informed School

As a Trauma Informed School, we support children who suffer trauma or have mental health problems and support them to overcome these barriers to them flourishing. We have trained practitioners within the school who drive this. Our school employs two Wellbeing Champions. In addition to being TIS practitioners, they both have a wealth of skills and expertise in order to support for our more vulnerable children to support them.

Growing in Grief Awareness

Sadly, there are times when a child suffers a bereavement. As a Growing in Grief Awareness School staff understand how to support a child during this period. Additionally we have two Bereavement Champions who provide support for children. We work closely with Penhaligan's Friends who also offer counselling for a child and their family. We recognise that we can't fix things but we can comfort them through their journey, which helps to build resilience.  

Here are some of the approaches we use to support our children.
Play Therapy		Dramatherapy		Dance
Laughter Yoga.		Story massage		Counselling
If you have any concerns regarding your child’s wellbeing please do not hesitate to contact the school who will arrange an appointment for you to speak to one of the wellbeing team. Either pop into school or email enquires@tjschool.co.uk and we will get back to you.