At Woodlands School, we know that our role is to ensure that pupils are able to manage times of change and stress, and that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. We also have a role to ensure that pupils learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health, how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and where they can go if they need help and support.

What is mental health and wellbeing?

To avoid ambiguity or confusion, as a school community we use the World Health Organisation’s definition of mental health and wellbeing “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”.

Whole school approach

We take a whole school approach to promoting positive mental health and ensuring the pupil are positive, resilient and able to deal with the stresses of the school day. We recognize the stigma behind talking about mental health and aim to create a school environment which is open and supportive with a positive culture where pupils feel comfortable discussing a range of issues.

Mental health and wellbeing is not just the absence of mental health problems. We want all pupils to:

• Feel confident in themselves and realise their own abilities
• Cope with the stresses of everyday life
• Work productively and being able to learn and achieve
• Be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
• Be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others and make a contribution to their community
• Manage times of stress and be able to deal with change