Mental health & wellbeing

Our Commitment

At Layston C of E First School, we believe that mental health and wellbeing are just as important as physical health. We are committed to creating a nurturing, supportive environment where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn.

We know that happy children learn best. Our staff work closely with families to support emotional wellbeing and to help children develop resilience, confidence, and positive relationships.

💚 Our Whole-School Approach 💚

Positive Relationships: We promote kindness, respect, and inclusion throughout our school community.

Wellbeing Curriculum: Emotional literacy, mindfulness, and resilience are woven into our PSHE and daily routines.

Safe Spaces: Children know they can talk to trusted adults if they feel worried, sad, or anxious.

Early Support: Staff are trained to notice early signs of emotional distress and to provide gentle, proactive help.

Celebrating Individuality: We encourage all children to recognise their strengths and value what makes them unique.

🧠 Supporting Pupils’ Mental Health 🧠

We support children’s wellbeing through:

  • “Zones of Regulation” used throughout the school.
  • Daily check-ins 
  • Friendship and social skills groups
  • Mindfulness and relaxation sessions
  • One-to-one support from Mrs Rolt, our Mental Health Lead
  • Celebrating kindness and resilience, not just academic success.
  • Using “Herts Steps” de-escalation and restorative approaches.
  • Building strong, secure relationships between staff and pupils.
  • Providing safe spaces for children to regulate emotions.
  • Establishing predictable routines to reduce anxiety.
  • Promoting inclusion — celebrating difference, and supporting pupils with additional needs (SEND or SEMH).

If a child needs extra support, we work with families and external professionals such as:

  • ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) sessions.
  • Referrals to local services such as:
  • Healthy Young Minds in Herts
  • School Nursing Service
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
  • Step2 (early intervention mental health service)

🧩 For Parents and Carers 🧩

We know that supporting a child’s wellbeing begins at home. Our staff are always happy to talk if you have concerns about your child’s emotional health or behaviour.

You can also find useful advice and resources from:

🌈 Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Team 🌈

Mental Health Lead and SENDCO – Donna Rolt – Coordinates wellbeing initiatives and staff training and supports children with additional needs.

Headteacher/Safeguarding Lead – Adele McMurrough – Oversees child protection and safeguarding policies ensuring that the school provides a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where children can learn and thrive.

Deputy Headteacher/DDSL – Daniel Harwood – supports the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in providing leadership, advice, and operational support in all aspects of child protection and safeguarding.

🌻 If You Need Help 🌻

If you’re worried about your child’s wellbeing, please talk to their class teacher or contact Mrs Rolt, our Mental Health Lead, via the school office. We’re here to listen and help.

Together, we can help every child grow, feel confident, and flourish.

Mental Health Governor: Rev. Kirsty Wainwright

In order to be mentally healthy we need:

  • the ability and desire to learn (not just in school but throughout life);
  • the ability to feel, express and manage a range of emotions (being able to explain what you feel and think);
  • the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others (having a support network of friends and/or family around us);
  • the ability to cope with change and uncertainty (this is often referred to as ‘resilience’ which is our ability to bounce back after difficulties).

At Layston we teach well-being and positive mental health through:

  • a whole school approach to nurture and therapeutic responses to behaviour (through Hertfordshire’s Therapeutic Thinking (formerly STEPS) and our nurture training);
  • consistently applying the school ethos and mission statement as well as policies;
  • supporting children develop and maintain healthy relationships with themselves, peers and adults through our PSHRE curriculum (see PSHRE policy);
  • promoting the key learning behaviours of resilience, resourcefulness, reflectiveness and reciprocity through our growth mindset;
  • providing consistency, safety, warmth, and humour within school;
  • openly talking about mental as well as physical health and investing in staff training;
  • Promoting the ‘5 Ways to Well-being’.

5 Ways to Wellbeing:

• CONNECT – talk to, listen to and spend time with people you love and who make you feel loved, listen to music, spend time with pets or in the garden…

• GIVE – giving time to others, raising money for charity, helping people…

• TAKE NOTICE – remember the little things that give you pleasure, connect with nature, practise mindfulness, cook, read, sing, draw, laugh…

• KEEP LEARNING – try something new, learn a new skill or hobby, have fun…

• BE ACTIVE – exercise, do something active that you enjoy, eat well, stay hydrated, sleep well, rest.