Senior Mental health Lead: Mrs Sheridan – admin@wavendongateschool.co.uk
At Wavendon Gate School, we believe in promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in pupils, staff and parents to provide an environment that enables first class teaching and learning. Everyone will go through ups and downs during their school career and some face significant life events, so we aim to provide children with the tools to manage these changes in a positive manner.
Mental Health “is a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” 
At our school, we develop these skills through teaching the Kapow wellbeing curriculum, alongside our PSHE curriculum.
The curriculum is designed to help pupils build healthy habits, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. It is based on the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” identified by the UK Government’s Foresight project and the NHS.
The Five Core Strands
The curriculum is organised into five key areas, or “strands,” which are revisited each year to deepen understanding:
Connect: Focuses on building and strengthening social relationships and empathy.
Take notice: Encourages mindfulness, self-awareness, and paying attention to one’s surroundings.
Give: Explores the positive impact of kindness, generosity, and community involvement.
Keep learning (Discover): Focuses on trying new things, setting goals, and developing a growth mindset to boost confidence.
Be active (Move): Highlights the link between physical activity and improved mental health.
We also support mental health and wellbeing through our daily golden miles and weekly singing assemblies.
At our school we:
- help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
- help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
- help children socially to form and maintain relationships
- promote self esteem and ensure children know that they count
- encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
- help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
We offer different levels of support:
Universal Support– To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos and our wider curriculum. For instance developing resilience for all.
Additonal support– For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as bereavement.
Targeted support– For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such as well-being groups or personal mentors.
Pastoral and safeguarding support – Amanda Dewhirst
We all know of the link between learning and wellbeing. All pupils have the right to be happy and we are here to do everything we can to make sure they thrive not only at school but at home. Mrs Dewhirst works closely with parents and is available daily if you have any concerns or would just like some advice. If she is unable to help you, she will certainly know of someone who can. You can find Mrs Dewhirst outside on the playground before and after school each day.
To support our school community, we have developed a termly newsletter called Helping Hands which contains useful information and strategies for promoting good mental health in adults and children. Click on the link below and press the play button in the top right corner to read our latest issue.
Helping websites for supporting mental health and wellbeing
A few book suggestions to support social and emotional learning at home:
When I feel Angry by Dr Sharie Coombes
When I Feel Sad by Dr Sharie Coombes
When I Feel Afraid by Dr Sharie Coombes
The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson
Useful documents to help with supporting mental health and wellbeing at home:
Anna Freud Mental Health Parent Leaflet
National Literacy Trust – Wellbeing Book List
Public Health England – How Children’s Behaviour Supports Wellbeing
Mental Health in Children and Young People with Autism
Helping Your Anxious Child Book
Milton Keynes Mental Health in Schools Team
Click here for local information on making a referral for a child.