Mental Health in Primary Schools

Welcome back to a brand new school year! At St Anthony's, we are delighted to welcome our returning students and offer a very warm welcome to the new families joining our community.

We believe that for a child to succeed academically, they first need to feel safe, known, and supported. Wellbeing is very important for us; it is the foundation of everything we do. It’s about helping students understand their feelings; whether they are joyful, worried, or upset and giving them the inner strength to bounce back when things get tricky.

Here at school, we offer a range of supports to ensure every child has what they need to thrive:

• Specialised Support: We provide access to Music Therapy and CatholicCare Counselling for students needing extra emotional layers of support.
• Targeted Groups: Our staff run individualised groups focusing on social development and collaborative problem-solving.
• Practical Wellbeing: Our Breakfast Club, Dogs Connect program, and community partnerships (providing fresh fruit and bread) ensure that our students’ basic needs are met so they can focus on learning.

In the Classroom: 

This year, our staff are continuing to deepen their expertise in evidence-based frameworks that inform how we teach and interact:

1. The Berry Street Education Model (BSEM): Our teachers are continuing their professional training in this model. It helps us create "predictable" classrooms where students learn to regulate their emotions and build the stamina needed for difficult tasks.

Every morning at St Anthony's, each class takes part in a Welcome Circle. This allows students to begin their day on a positive note, aiming to help them find success throughout the day. This practice has been adapted from our staff’s training in the Berry Street Education Model

2. The MHiPS Framework: We continue to use the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) framework. This guides our staff practices, ensuring we use the latest evidence to monitor and support the mental health of every student in our care.

3. Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR): Each week, students participate in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons using the RRRR curriculum and a range of other resources and strategies. This helps them build healthy relationships, practice kindness, and develop problem-solving skills.

We believe that by paying attention to our children’s wellbeing now, we are building a strong foundation for their future success.

If you ever have worries or questions about your child’s wellbeing, please know that we are here to support you. We are a team, working together for your child’s best interests.

Maggie Collins

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader