Personal Development and Wellbeing
Becoming an Uphill Citizen
Please watch this video to see the variety of the opportunities children will have to develop their character during their time with us.
What is Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing?
The World Health Organisation 2010 defines it as the following:
‘a state of mind in which an individual is able to realise his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.’
Why is it important?
It is important because this is what we truly want for our children.
Research has proven that without emotional and physical wellbeing, students will not be able to reach their full potential. There are government expectations that schools should support students and staff to be resilient and mentally healthy. They should provide a safe environment that fosters trust and belonging and create a culture that supports mental health
It is estimated that 1 in 4 children and young people will be affected by a mental health problem each year with 1 in 10 children in UK aged between 5 years and 16 years have a diagnosable mental health condition. In an average classroom, three young people will be suffering from a diagnosable mental health issue
Public Health England in March 2015 comment on the influence that a child’s emotional health & wellbeing has on their cognitive development & learning, as well as their physical and social health and their mental wellbeing in adulthood.
A whole school positive mental health and wellbeing approach that moves beyond learning & teaching to cover all aspects of school life has been found to be effective in bringing about sustained health benefits.
What do we do?
At Uphill Village Academy, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff, families and community. This includes creating a sense of security within the school community to allow everyone to feel that they can flourish – regardless of age, gender or educational attainment.
At Uphill Village Academy, we have invested in providing additional support for mental health needs across the school. Namely, this includes Emotional Literacy practitioners (ELSAs), a number of staff trained as Mental Health First Aiders, a learning mentor, and an Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP). As a result, pupils and parents have the opportunity to discuss and act upon their own thoughts and feelings around mental health support. Our Inclusion Team are also able to gather support from additional services within North Somerset, such as Off The Record, CAMHs, VitaMinds, Young Victims Service.
Our Inclusion Team also hold events throughout the year to provide additional support for concerns around mental health. Examples of these include workshops on childhood anxiety, parenting top-tips, and coffee mornings with representatives from outside agencies.
Mental Health Strategic Lead – Sam Hodder
Emotional Literacy Support Assistants ( ELSAs)
Mental Heath First Aiders
You can also find further information and support through the following organisations:
