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St John Fisher Catholic Primary

St John Fisher Catholic Primary

Mental Health and Wellbeing at St John Fisher

At St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all our pupils, staff, parents and carers. We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, valued and supported, and we place wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.

Our Approach

We take a whole-school approach to mental health, following guidance from the Department for Education and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

This means we:

  • Create a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment

  • Teach children about emotions, resilience and wellbeing

  • Encourage children to talk openly about their feelings

  • Identify and support children who may need extra help

  • Work closely with families and outside agencies

Relational Approach

At the centre of our school is a relational approach. We believe that strong, positive relationships are key to children’s wellbeing and success.

In practice, this means we:

  • Build trusting relationships between staff and pupils

  • Help children understand and manage their emotions

  • Support children to resolve conflicts calmly and fairly

  • Focus on repairing relationships rather than simply giving sanctions

  • Ensure every child feels heard, valued and respected

This approach helps children feel a strong sense of belonging, improves behaviour, and supports their emotional development.

What we want for our children

We aim for all children to:

  • Feel happy, safe and confident

  • Understand and manage their emotions

  • Build positive friendships

  • Be resilient and able to cope with challenges

  • Know that they are valued and that they belong

Supporting children in school

We support children’s wellbeing through:

  • Daily classroom practices and routines

  • Wellbeing and PSHRE lessons

  • Trusted adults children can talk to

  • Pastoral support and small group interventions where needed - We invest in mentoring services from VISTA (https://vistasupportservices.org.uk/) and we have our own in house Emotional Learning Support Assistant (ELSA).

  • Support during times of change, such as moving class or school

If needed, we also work with external services to provide additional support e.g. school nursing services (https://www.hct.nhs.uk/service-details/service/school-nursing-56/

Understanding mental health (child friendly)


👉 A short, child-friendly animation that helps children understand what mental health is, recognise different feelings, and learn how to talk about them.

How parents and carers can help at home

Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting children’s mental health. You can help by:

  • Talking regularly with your child about their day and feelings

  • Listening without judgement and taking their worries seriously

  • Helping them name their emotions (e.g. worried, frustrated, excited)

  • Keeping routines consistent, especially around sleep and screen time

  • Encouraging healthy habits such as exercise, outdoor play and balanced diets

  • Modeling positive coping strategies, such as staying calm and problem-solving

  • Reassuring your child that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions

If you have any concerns about your child, please speak to us — we are here to help.

Helpful resources for parents/carers

You may find the following trusted resources useful:

General Mental Health Support

Anxiety and Worries

Sleep

Behaviour and Parenting Support

Young Minds – Supporting Transitions

Further Support

Children and families can also access support from Childline:

📞 0800 1111 (free and confidential)

Working Together

By working together, we can ensure that every child feels supported, understood and ready to thrive.