Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

In February 2024, our school was awarded the Hertfordshire Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Quality Mark, which recognises much of the work we do to develop our school community. 

Excerpts from the report are shared below:

• From the moment I stepped into Nash Mills, it was obvious that school has a caring nature and places children's wellbeing at the centre of everything they do. 
• The school is responsive to children's needs and take advantage of initiatives designed to promote positive mental health throughout the day.
• As the Mental Health Lead has post since 2020, there is an embedded culture of wellbeing first among both staff and pupils. School has gained ideas from other sectors.
• School has a strong community feel and encourages students to help one another though peer learning. Links with the local care home for older people provides children opportunities to show how they can offer support and show kindness to others.
• Teacher mentoring is something which is highly valued, brings joy to all involved, and is organised on an informal basis; more so for pupils identified by staff, who may receive less nurture at home.
• The Forest Room which is available to all children is a lovely, calming, visual space with a wall of books linked to emotions and feelings. Children can sit here to regulate and share their thoughts with Miss Bentley. Miss Bentley has been trained in a variety of pastoral interventions and has a healthy set of resources and skills available to suit students across ages and stages.
• The classrooms have small, cosy corners that children are permitted to use at any time, should they feel the need. As these are within the learning environment, it makes returning to their desks to reengage much more seamless, and easier.
• Children are greatly encouraged to be kind to one another, and in line with school's Christian values and vision to follow the parable of The Good Samaritan, support and embrace half termly themes in areas such loyalty, faith, friendship etc. School brings in guest speakers from a range of organisations, including their local church, to share moralistic teachings and underpin schools' vision. Consequently, there are very few instances of unkindness and/or bullying. School also adopts a Behaviour and Relationship Policy as opposed to Antibullying, due to the preference to be proactive in nature.
• School have used Feeling Good Week in 2023 and 2024 to enhance children's learning by engaging in projects which improve wellbeing and promote positive mental health through targeted themes, such as the environment. This year, learning is woven into the curriculum through Forest School. There is also evidence of children learning about different cultures through art, music and experiencing ways of maintaining their wellbeing during PE lessons by understanding the benefits of movement for mental health.
• Children appear settled, happy, and well-regulated in the classroom environment, engaging well in lessons and confident to speak to visitors in school. They are keen to share information about what they are learning and can be seen working in small, supportive groups or pairs.
• School greatly values staff and has all members throughout school covered via a benefits package within the school insurance policy. School has implemented new, dynamic marking practices which not only reduce additional workloads outside of the classroom, but also ensure that children are able to learn more effectively as feedback is immediate.
• Staff are open with sharing their views and opinions and feel heard.