At St Mary’s Infants we endeavour to promote our children’s mental health and wellbeing as being every bit as important as their physical health. Our staff are trained to understand the impact of good mental health to help to ensure we have a resilient staff and pupils and we understand that children learn best when they feel safe, happy and healthy. We actively promote physical and mental health and equip our pupils with the skills and knowledge to help them lead healthy lives, now and in the future.

All children are taught the skills and knowledge they need to lead healthy and safe lives. This is interwoven through our PSHCE, Science, PE and Computing curriculum, but is a feature of many other areas of the curriculum as well.

A few children may need more skilled, professional support. We work closely with a number of outside agencies at a more targeted level, and have access to school counsellors and therapists through our relationship with NESSie, an organisation which supports the positive mental health of children and young people in North Herts.

Within the Baldock group of schools, we have a wonderful Family Support Worker who can provide additional support to families where there is a need.

If you would like personal or specific information then please contact our SENCo, via the school office.

What to do if you are worried about your child’s mental health or wellbeing?

We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, you could:

Explore the links below for additional advice and support.
Speak to their class teacher or our Senco about your concerns. We may be able to put in place additional support, or signpost you to further help
Speak to your GP – they are a useful place to gain medical support and signpost to local services.
For children and young people who are already OPEN to Specialist CAMHS
you can call the CAMHS duty team for their relevant service (the number is
detailed on your paperwork from Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation
Trust).
If your child is not known to Specialist CAMHS call: Single Point of Access
(SPA) Tel: 0300 777 0707 Email: hpft.spa@nhs.net to make a referral.
Of course, in an absolute emergency call 999 or take your child to A & E

General information on Mental Health:

NESSie- an organisation we work closely with providing support for children, families and professionals

MindEd– has advice and information from trusted experts about how you can support your family and take care of yourself.

Childline – a service run by NSPCC which provides help and advice about a range of issues.

Place2be– national charity offering advice and support to children and their parents/ carers

CAMHS Resources – This is a fantastic website that has details of books, weblinks, apps, videos and contains resources around emotional / mental health

Healthy Young Minds in Herts

Young Minds – Children and Young people’s mental health charity. Filled with information and have a parent’s helpline