Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Hayes Primary School, we believe that positive mental health and wellbeing are fundamental to children’s happiness, learning and overall development. We know that supporting children to develop their emotional resilience supports their overall experience at school, and it is part of our ethos to develop the whole child to achieve their personal best.  We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

All children are supported through a whole-school approach to wellbeing. This includes strong relationships with trusted adults, a positive and inclusive curriculum, clear routines, and regular opportunities for children to talk about their feelings and develop resilience, confidence and emotional literacy. Wellbeing is embedded into daily school life so that all pupils feel safe, listened to and understood.

For some children, additional support may be needed at different times. We provide targeted support for individuals or small groups through a range of strategies, including nurture groups, regular emotional check-ins, Zones of Regulation, drawing and talking sessions, and Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) sessions. These approaches help children to understand and manage their emotions, build positive coping strategies, and feel supported in a way that meets their individual needs.

We also use Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings as a form of early help, enabling concerns to be identified and addressed at an early stage. Through this approach, we work closely with parents, carers and, where appropriate, external professionals to provide coordinated support. We are committed to supporting the whole family, recognising that children’s wellbeing is closely linked to the wellbeing of those around them. Support is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains effective and responsive to changing needs.  We are also part of Bromley's emotional resilience forums to ensure we are as up to date with current practice and support. 

The school's designated Mental Health and Wellbeing Leads, Mrs Field and Mrs Griffin, oversee and support this work. They regularly gather pupil voice and parent voice to help shape and inform wellbeing provision across the school. This ensures that our approach reflects the needs of our community and continues to develop in a meaningful and responsive way.

By working together with pupils, parents and staff, we aim to promote positive mental health, build resilience, and support every child to flourish both emotionally and academically.