Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
At St Mary’s we understand that supporting and boosting our pupils social, emotional and mental health is paramount. We believe that if we focus on our pupils’ happiness and well-being then in turn they will perform better at school, have improved mental health and will grow up to be more resilient, content adults.
With this in mind, we have developed a multi-faceted approach to pupils’ social, emotional and mental health.
SEMH Whole Class Sessions
Children will have daily SEMH sessions delivered by their class teacher. During these sessions, classes will work together to build strong teams where the children feel they belong and have secure attachments. They will celebrate achievements, review what has gone well and look forward to things they are excited about. This is also the perfect time to focus on worries and concerns specific to their class. They will follow a solution-focused approach to problems, equipping the children with ways to cope positively with problems which arise. These sessions will include: Circle Time activities, Mindfulness, Art, Drama, Reading and Outdoor activities.
Alongside these daily sessions, we have a variety of more specific interventions. The Inclusions Leader, Home School Support Worker, Class Teacher and parents, work together to identify children who would most benefit from the following interventions.
Stepping Stones
This group focuses on improving the children’s self esteem and emotional resilience. We use games, stories and circle time to discuss emotions and how we can overcome negative emotions with a range of strategies.
Oasis Lunch Club
This lunch club aims to provide a quiet space as an alternative to the normal hustle and bustle of outdoor playtime. The unstructured nature of playtime can be quite stressful for some pupils and so Oasis Club is a calm area for children to occupy their minds in a stress-free environment.
Drawing and Talking
This is a gentle, non-intrusive method of working with children who need a little help to support their emotional needs.
Lego Club
This is a form of collaborative play in which children work together in a structured environment to build Lego models. Lego Club aims to improve the children’s ability to listen to others, problem solve and take turns. It focuses on working as a team and effective communication. 