At St Michael & All Angels, we believe in promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Prioritising the wellbeing of students and staff ensures that effective teaching and learning can take place, and that the school is a community where everyone feels able to thrive.

We are very proud of our caring culture. At St Michaels pupils’ wellbeing and welfare is a priority and one of our strengths. That said pastoral care is something that continually needs development and support, especially in an evolving and challenging world for our whole community.

Children's mental wellbeing is very important and it can be a very difficult balancing act as children grow up, especially during challenging times as they experience life events. 

It can be a very difficult balancing act as children grow up, especially during challenging times as they experience life events. Therefore, we have a range of support mechanisms for families from informal and ad-hoc support to more formal and structured support. We also have regular SEN and Pastoral Drop In Sessions for parents which are advertised on the school calendar and correspondence. Every family needs some sort of support at some point in time along the path of life.

There are many links and documents to support families at the bottom of this page.

Parent workshops

We regularly run parent workshops in conjunction with local providers such as OpenMinds on topics such as Social Media and Wellbeing, Keeping Children Safe, Anxiety and Sleep Difficulties which cover a broad spectrum of ways to keep children safe. 

SEN and Pastoral Drop In Sessions

We have regular SEN and Pastoral Drop In Sessions for parents which are advertised on the school calendar and correspondence.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries or concerns in the meantime.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

School has a number of staff with the 'Young People Mental Health First Aid' qualification. The 'Young People Mental Health First Aid' qualification ensures they have skills and knowledge to begin support young people as they develop into young adults and deal with common difficulties they may experience. We also work alongside outside agencies and can refer children or families if you require more support or help. If you need any help numbers please do ask.

Support in School

Staff are here to support families and pupils. If you wish to contact our team or make a referral for your child to work with them please complete the form below. There are some links at the bottom of the page that are useful in supporting positive wellbeing.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm please do not use this form. In an emergency where there is a threat to life or serious injury call 999, if you are concerned that a crime has been committed, call 101.

Contact Mrs Westby, Learning Mentor

Mrs Westby supports families and pupils and you can use the contact box below to get in touch with her directly. There are some links at the bottom of the page that are useful in supporting positive wellbeing.

 

Advice for parents to support their children at home

• Sure Start Childrens Centres
• Family Action
• Care for the Family
• Dealing with Behaviour in a restorative way Behaviour Matters
• What to do when your child says "I'm dumb"

Mental health for children and adults

• Open Minds Calderdale
• Unmasked Mental Health

Calming techniques

• You Tube Cosmic Kids  Cosmic Kids is great for Yoga.
• Kids Yoga Stories
• Phrases for calming anxious children

Advice and Support

• Emotional Health and Wellbeing service offer for children and young people in Calderdale
• Expressing suicidal thoughts leaflet
• Frustrated, cross or angry leaflet
• Low mood leaflet
• Parents sleep difficulties workshop resource pack
• Routine difficulties leaflet
• Self harm leaflet
• Stressed worried or uncertain leaflet
• Supporting an anxious child leaflet

 

• Relationships Matter Helping families and couples (whether together or separated) understand and build healthy relationships
• Oneplusone App Separating better: digital support for separating parents
• LGBT Stonewall offers a student guide for dealing with Support and advice on coming out.
• Mental Health and Stress Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It includes practical advice on dealing with anxiety or stress.
• Anti-Bullying Alliance The Anti-Bullying Alliance is a coalition of organisations and individuals that are united against bullying.
• Youngminds Youngminds offers information and advice on mental health and all aspects of emotional wellbeing, plus online support.
• Childline Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.
• NSPCC The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity, preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover.
• Kidscape Help with keeping children from bullying and harm, with adults who keep them safe and help them to reach their full potential.
• Kooth Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.
• Open Minds Open Minds offers support to the 2 in 5 people aged 16 and above who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression.
• Family Lives Advice and support