Nurture and Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

 

Nurture

Positive mental health and wellbeing are the building blocks that allow children to develop into confident learners. Here at Catsfield we pride ourselves in putting nurture at the heart of our school. 

In July 2022, we achieved the National Nurture School Award in recognition of our ethos. 

It is often the little things that can make the difference, walk past any child or adult in our school and you are sure to be greeted with a smile, good morning or a 'how are you today?' 

Around the school there are cosy nooks for those times when a little bit of calm is needed. Anyone is welcome to use them, even the teachers!

Our Draw and Talk sessions enable us to talk about our feelings in a safe and supportive way. In our sessions we build trust so we can talk about difficult things. It helps us to feel calm, listened to and safe.

Forest School lets us connect with nature and gives us freedom to explore, take risks, and solve problems. We have fun with friends and also have opportunities to become confident, independent and creative learners.

Nurture club runs three days a week and allows us to spend time in a small group being creative and connecting with others. We are supported to express ourselves and build friendships away from the busy playground.

Lego Therapy helps us to connect, share, and problem-solve together. It’s a calm and familiar experience to help up feel connected and less anxious.

Sensory circuits help us to wake up our brains, feel connected and helps us to calm down. Afterwards, we have better focus and feel more ready for learning.

Cooking with Mrs Woods enables us to feel fully immersed in preparing and cooking food. We are focused on creating recipes so we can escape from negative thoughts and anxiety.  We work in small groups, talk and generally feel more calm and confident.

Our Amazing Me books focus on our talents and interests to help build our confidence, identity and self-esteem. We fill our books with photos and notes about what we’re good at and what we are proud of.

Our school therapy dog Lenny teaches us important life skills about how to show care and manage stress and anxiety. He helps us feel calm and supported.

The Daily Mile and Brain Breaks give us the opportunity to exercise, to get fresh air, to connect to others or to be alone.  We know that exercise helps our mental wellbeing. Activity triggers the release of endorphins, which helps us regulate mood, lower stress levels, and reduce feelings of anxiety.

Let’s talk PSHE programme teaches us how to keep ourselves healthy, safe and confident. We learn how to express our feelings and understand why we may be feeling a certain way. The lessons build our resilience and give us the tools to tackle life’s challenges with curiosity and confidence. The concepts taught permeate through every aspect of school life and establish a calm, safe and supportive environment where everyone can flourish.

Zones of regulation sessions help us to recognize different emotions and why we might be feeling like we do.  Talking about how we feel and identifying our emotions is really helpful.

Support, Advice and Information 

Supporting your young person at home with independance.PDF

Supporting your person at home with transition.PDF

Supporting your young person at home with emotional wellbeing. PDF

Supporting your young person at home with routine. PDF