Health and Wellbeing at Goostrey School

Health and Wellbeing

At Goostrey Community Primary School we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals. We offer a holistic approach to education that prioritises physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our school's ethos extends beyond the educational curriculum to provide our pupils with the tools they need to thrive. By instilling a foundation of resilience and self-care, we cultivate a supportive environment where every child can flourish and reach their full potential, both inside and outside the classroom.

Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Goostrey Community Primary School actively promotes mental and emotional wellbeing. Our staff participate in mental health training, we have a mental health lead and two mental health first aiders.   Evidence-based strategies are used to support students. We are proud to be a My Happy Mind school, and the programme is fully embedded across the school. Intervention programmes are fully established, for example 7Up transition group work, where our Y6 pupils meet with the mental health first aider to explore strategies for a successful move to high school.  We are committed to creating a culture of open communication and understanding where children feel comfortable seeking support.

Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment

Safety and inclusion are at the heart of our school community.  Our anti-bullying policies and inclusive practices ensure that all students, regardless of background or ability, have the opportunity to succeed and feel part of the school community, and know they are respected and valued.

The perspectives of our students hold significant value, as they are the primary stakeholders in our school community. We maintain an engaged school council and Well-Being Ambassadors actively promote the importance of student voice throughout the school. Older children complete our own bespoke reflection sheets weekly and all our pupils know that adults will listen to any concerns or worries they have.

Parental and Community Engagement

The involvement and support of parents and the community are essential for the overall health and wellbeing of our students. We prioritise maintaining open communication with parents and provide opportunities for their active participation in school activities, for example our annual exhibition.  Our open-door policy fosters dialogue between home and school, as we collectively strive to ensure that children feel safe, secure, and happy.

Physical Health

Physical health serves as a fundamental element of our wellbeing strategy. We advocate active lifestyles through our physical education (PE) curriculum that encompasses a diverse array of sports and physical activities. Our spacious grounds and well-equipped facilities create an ideal setting for children to partake in physical exercise, promoting not only fitness but also teamwork and discipline.  A high proportion of our pupils participate in before and after school sporting activities throughout the week, as well as our forest school club and residential visits focusing on outdoor pursuits.

These opportunities not only bolster physical health but also contribute to the development of social skills and self-esteem.

Healthy Eating

Nutrition is essential for sustaining health and wellbeing. Our school advocates healthy eating practices. Through science and design and technology classes, we inform our students about the significance of a healthy diet and its beneficial effects on their energy, focus, and general health. Our school meal provision meets school foods standards providing pupils with hot meals of a high nutritional value.  Additionally, we encourage families to provide their children with healthy snacks and packed lunches.  We offer our younger children free fruit daily and our older pupils can purchase a healthy toasted breaktime snack.

Cheshire East Support For Families

Cheshire East Family Hubs is a service that provides a wealth of support for children, parents and families. 

Three key priority areas have been identified to support families across the authority: emotional health and wellbeing; Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and deprivation. 

Family Hub Link

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/care-and-support-for-children/family-hubs/family-hubs.aspx

Family hubs support children and young people from 0-19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

This useful resource has advice on health, keeping safe, learning and development as well as supporting children with additional needs.

Targeted support is available for families via referral. Referrals can be made via school or self-referrals directly to the local hub. 

Targeted support is available for families via referral. Referrals can be made via school or self-referrals directly to the local hub. 

The Solihull Approach

Residents of Cheshire East can access a range of excellent resources as part of the Solihull Approach. Details on how to access these resources are available via the following link: https://inourplace.co.uk/cheshire-east/

Video that explains the Solihull Approach

https://youtu.be/gs9Qut0iRww

About the Solihull Approach

'Solihull Approach brings together a core team of NHS clinical psychologists, child psychotherapists, health professionals, and child and family practitioners, together with schools and parents to develop training to support people who work with children in ANY setting as well as for ALL parents who want to support and nurture emotional health.

We focus on relationships because they shape who we are and are key to our development as human beings. Our training encourages reflective thinking with frameworks, tools and ideas that are proven to be transformative.'

NHS website - About the Solihull Approach

Support for children and parents

https://www.visyon.org.uk/

Visyon is a team we have engaged with a lot.  Specific parental support and courses are often promoted on the newsletter

My Mind

Link below, guides you to CYPMHS as well as the Autism Hub

Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) - formerly known as CAMHS - are NHS provided services that support young people up to age 18 with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

https://www.mymind.org.uk/services-and-contacts/cheshire-services?locality=cheshire_east#map-wrapper

Live Well Cheshire East

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/livewell.aspx

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Support

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/staying-safe/domestic-abuse-and-sexual-violence/domestic-abuse-and-sexual-violence.aspx