Mental Health and Wellbeing

At The John Bamford Primary School, we aim to promote positive mental health for all members of the school community, including; staff, pupils, parents and carers.

Our vision is that The John Bamford Primary School is a place everyone loves to be. Wellbeing is a big part of this as it affects how we relate, interact, learn and grow.

Ultimately, the day-to-day ethos and approach we have in our school has an impact on the wellbeing of all of us, therefore, we strive to promote wellbeing through some of our strategic goals. The goals that promote wellbeing are; that we are the best we can be, we know how to seek support, and that we take care of ourselves and each other.

At our school we:

Help children, parents/carers and staff to understand their emotions and feelings better
Help children, parents/carers and staff feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
Help children, parents/carers and staff socially to form and maintain relationships
Promote self-esteem and ensure children, parents/carers and staff know that they count and are valued
Encourage children, parents/carers and staff to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
Help children, parents/carers and staff to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
Work closely with the NHS Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all those in our community is vital to ensuring that we function successfully as a school and therefore, each Wednesday, we will share a top tip or quote via the Class Dojo whole school page and the school website. Parents and staff are also invited to join the Parent or Staff Wellbeing Strategy Teams and are encouraged to speak to Ms Wall or Mrs Bevan Phillips if they wish to do so. Also, we can refer to the MHST. Parents and Carers can also complete a self referral to MHST. See below for more information.

The Mental Health Support Team at The John Bamford Primary School

Parent Information Leaflet

Anxiety – You Tube link:

https://youtu.be/02nvDNtk13U?si=1qFBO4wnZcIlHbWp

Low Mood – You Tube link:

https://youtu.be/tkhBJu_RbFE?si=n4LenL0Pl5lhRkql

What the MHST Does:

Offers evidence-based support (such as low-level CBT) for issues like anxiety, low mood, sleep difficulties, and worries.
Works with our school to promote a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Provides advice to school staff and liaises with specialist services when needed.

Referral Process:
If a young person is struggling, they may be identified by staff, parents, or through self-referral. Their situation is then discussed (confidentially) with our Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP), and our Inclusion and Nurture Leads.
With consent from the parent/carer, a referral can be made to the MHST. The team will then review the referral and decide the next steps, which may include an assessment, further information gathering, or signposting to another service.

Support Offered:
If accepted, the young person will be offered an initial assessment and, where appropriate, 6–8 sessions of CBT-based support. These sessions can take place in school, online, or in a clinic, and may be delivered 1:1 or in a group setting.

Whole-School Approach:
As part of our partnership with MHST, The John Bamford Primary School is building a positive mental health culture by equipping staff, pupils, and parents with the tools to support wellbeing and recognise when others might need help.

Our Current Offer Includes:

EMHP in school every Wednesday for pupil drop-ins and meeting with the Wellbeing Ambassadors
1:1 low-level CBT sessions (via referral)
Workshops to children across the school
Attendance at Parents’ Consultation Evenings as a ‘drop in’ for parents

If you would like more information about the MHST or have concerns about your child’s mental health, please contact Mrs. Hamnett or Mrs. Bevan-Phillips.

Mrs. Louise Ferguson | Headteacher, DSL, Mental Health Lead, Mental Health First Aider

Ms. Kate Wall | Deputy Headteacher, DDSL, Mental Health First Aider

Mrs. Lindsey Hamnett | SEND and Inclusion Lead, DDSL and Mental Health First Aider

Mrs. Katy Bevan-Phillips | Assistant SENDCo, Nurture Lead, Mental Health Support Team

Mrs Ferguson

Mrs Hamnett

Ms Wall

Mrs Bevan-Phillips

Following our success during audit, we have been awarded The Wellbeing Award for Schools, achieving a national standard for positive Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing.

We hold great pride in receiving the certificate below:

The Wellbeing Award for Schools

Wellbeing Award Report

Suicide Awareness & Prevent - Focus on Children and Young People Certificate

Please click the links below to view our Wellbeing Wednesday information:

Wellbeing Wednesday 11th February 2026