Wellbeing and Mental Health
Wellbeing
Looking after our children's wellbeing is always at the forefront of what we want to achieve. In our school, we do this in a number of ways: through building relationships with children and their families, providing whole class, small group and individual support and doing all that we can to create an inspiring environment.
During any period of home-learning, we recognise that looking after wellbeing can be a challenge. We will have regular contact with all children and families throughout lockdown, through class meets, our online learning platforms or via phone calls, but if you have any concerns that you wish to discuss, please ensure that you contact us. We hope that you will find some of the resources below useful:
- Health professionals recognise the link between mental and physical wellbeing, so please enjoy a range of exercise together, be this walks with the dog, cycling, playing outside or enjoying online workouts, such as Joe Wicks or Cosmic Yoga (both can be found on Youtube).
- The story below 'My Hero is You' is a story for children, which explains a bit more about lockdown and how everybody can be a hero to support the fight against covid-19.
- Mind Ed is a useful website, which offers support and guidance for parents covering a range of areas, from specific support, to general parenting advice.
- The PDF below ('Children's Guide to Corona Virus') is a good explanation for upper Key Stage 2 children.
- We know that getting the balance between work and play can be difficult when restrictions limit what we can do, but the Children's Commissioner recommend trying the following activities to keep busy: audiobooks (Amazon offer some free ones), starting a film club by encouraging friends to watch the same film and then discuss it (this could also be a book club using an ebook), improve your art skills using online demos, learn about other places with Google and even Mars with this tool learn a new language, make quizzes for your friends and family to enjoy virtually, write a story like an author, learn a new instrument, play some board games.
- If you have more time to read information, you may find This guidance from the government, written for families, useful.
- This is the recommended information from Suffolk
- My Hero is You story
The School Nurse
The Bawdsey School Nurse visits the school regularly to help children get the full benefit from their schooling by detecting health needs and maintaining and improving standards of health and hygiene. She carries out vision and hearing tests. She works with doctors, teachers, health visitors, social workers, educational welfare officers, physiotherapists and speech and occupational therapists.
Education Welfare
The School Education Welfare Officer is based at County Hall. The School will be able to help you with advice on free school meals, clothing allowances etc. If problems arise at home which can affect your child at school, it is helpful for the school to be aware, so that your child can be supported through any difficult times. All such information will be dealt with strictly confidentially.
Medicines
Generally these days there is no need for antibiotics or other medicines to be administered in school. Doctors inform us that most medicines can be arranged for administration outside the school day. EXCEPTIONS are made for asthmatics who are responsible for their own inhalers. The school keeps a register of asthma sufferers with details of triggers, symptoms and dosage. Parents are required to complete a form every September to enable this to be updated. In all cases, the school can accept no responsibility in the administration of medicine.
Pupil Behaviour
The school operates a behaviour policy, which includes dealing with any bullying issues, to which all staff, parents and pupils have ownership. The theme is to treat others as you would wish to be treated. The principles are firmly based upon respect for each other, respect for the environment and for belongings. Building of individual self-esteem is part of the ethos of the school and pupils regularly receive praise, stickers or certificates to reward good performance. Poor behaviour, including bullying, is not accepted at school. At times pupils are required to stay in at break to complete work or to take time to consider poor behaviour and its consequences. Class teachers and the headteacher consult with parents when a child presents poor behaviour as a co-operative approach by the home and school is in the best interests of the child.
Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is seen as an extremely important part of the healthy lifestyle we are trying to encourage the children to adopt. As part of our programme, the children have lessons in healthy choices; they are given fruit or vegetable every morning and are encouraged to drink water whenever they need it. See also our page on School Lunches.
Children's guide to Coronavirus