Emotional Health and Well-Being
At Golcar JI&N School we recognise that we have an important role to play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all our pupils. We do this in a range of ways across school, including tailoring approaches to the needs of individual pupils. We fully accept that we have a duty to promote the welfare of our pupils; including preventing the impairment of pupil health or development, and to take action to enable all pupils to have the best outcome. Our trained Senior Mental Health lead is Mrs Tasha Hughes (SENCo), who works closely with and Inclusion and Wellbeing Team. This consists of Mr Andy Beech, who is our Inclusion Worker and Rachel Hughes/ Sally McVeigh who are our ELSA’s (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). This team ensures that promoting positive emotional health and wellbeing is embedded within the school’s values, policies and systems. There is a graduated and differentiated response to supporting children’s emotional needs. In addition, we have a number of trained ‘Mental Health First Aiders’ who are able to offer support and advice to our staff, pupils, parents and carers.
Supporting emotional wellbeing is a whole-school priority, embedded in our curriculum, culture and daily practice. Our aim is to ensure every child feels safe, understood, valued and equipped with the emotional tools to face challenges both now and in the future. Our wellbeing curriculum explicitly teaches children how their brain works, how to identify and manage their emotions, and how to develop resilience, self-regulation, confidence and compassion. We want pupils not only to cope with difficulties, but to feel empowered to succeed. Our general and tailored provision, including staff training and access to services for families, has been a key area, to ensure all families feel supported the best they can be.
To support this, we have implemented My Happy Mind, an NHS-backed, evidence-based programme delivered weekly from Nursery to Year 6. This structured teaching helps children learn:
Mindfulness and emotional regulation
Positive mental habits and self-awareness
Identifying personal strengths
Gratitude and growth mindset
Healthy routines that support lifelong wellbeing
Children engage with the programme through high-quality lessons, stories, reflection activities and practical strategies they can apply across all aspects of their day. Many families have already noted improvements in children’s confidence, independence and emotional understanding. The accompanying My Happy Mind app enables parents to continue this learning at home, deepening the connection between school and family support.
We also offer a nurturing morning provision known as Calm Club, designed to support pupils who may benefit from a gentler start to the school day or additional emotional and wellbeing support. Calm Club provides a structured, calm and welcoming environment where children can eat breakfast, settle into the day and engage in a range of purposeful activities.
During these sessions, pupils are given the opportunity to:
Develop and practise social and communication skills
Learn and apply wellbeing and self-regulation strategies
Talk openly about any worries, concerns or experiences with a trusted adult
Prepare themselves mentally and emotionally for the school day ahead
Sessions are carefully tailored to the individual needs of each child and run across different age groups within the school, ensuring the support offered is appropriate, targeted and impactful. Through Calm Club, we aim to reduce anxiety, strengthen resilience and ensure that children enter the classroom ready to learn, engage and thrive
.