A Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing
Leadership and management and creating a safe environment for pupils and staff
The eight principles underpinning a Whole School Approach (WSA) to mental health and wellbeing promoted by Public Health England and Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Coalition (2015):
- Leadership and management: Creating a safe environment for pupils and staff
- Ethos and environment
- Curriculum, teaching and learning to promote and support wellbeing
- Identifies need and monitors impact
- Targets support and appropriate referrals
- Supports staff wellbeing and provides appropriate CPD
- Enable pupil voice to influence decisions
- Engagement and partnership with families and local communities
Leadership and Management
A WSA approach is led by senior leaders. See checklist below and guidance from Anna Freud 5 Steps: Leading Change (opens new window).
- Understand the Whole School Approach (WSA)
- Identify a senior mental health lead
- Mental health and wellbeing policy
- Mental health and wellbeing on school improvement plan
- Signpost information for governors, staff, pupils, parents and carers
Follow our simple 5 step approach below:
- Appoint a senior mental health lead in school
- Mental health lead meets with SLT to audit current practice Carry out a Whole School Approach audit using the Anna Freud 5 steps framework (opens new window) or using the AF 5 steps Audit Tool Excel Version (Excel doc) [17KB]
- Conduct pupil voice activity to identify need
- Consult with all members of the school community: Setting up a Mental Health Action Group (opens new window)
- Develop a WSA Action Plan (Excel doc) [23KB] led by the mental health lead in collaboration with the senior leadership team; prioritise actions on the WSA action plan to help coordinate and embed achievable change
Training for Senior Mental Lead
- Mental Health Champion (opens new window): Funded basic training and specialist training for schools in Norfolk and Waveney
- National Educational Leaders in Mental Health (opens new window) from National Network of Mental Health Leads: DfE funded Senior Mental Health Lead training; if you have any questions, please contact bianca.finger-berry@norfolk.gov.uk
Signposting and guidance
Local and national sources of support to signpost children, families and professionals.
It is the responsibility of individual schools to ascertain the appropriateness of each source of support.
Create a safe environment for pupils and staff
Schools and colleges should be safe environments for pupils and staff and should be places that promote respect and diversity. When thinking about safety in your setting, consider emotional safety alongside physical safety (opens new window).
We know from Headstart research (opens new window) that improving young people's access to supportive relationships in schools can help to support their wellbeing.
When a child or young person feels safe and supported (opens new window), they are more likely to be able to engage in their learning, manage their emotions and ask for support when they need it.
I've got some questions, who can I ask?
For expert advice around embedding a provision of mental health and wellbeing in your school, contact inclusionandsend@norfolk.gov.uk.