At Leigh Academy Dartford wellbeing and emotional health are at the forefront of everything we do. It is interwoven into our teaching and underpins our ethos that drives our school and ensures children grow into resilient citizens with healthy minds and bodies. Whilst protecting our pupils is paramount, we ensure that our children understand modern society and the dangers they can encounter in their everyday lives, such as internet safety, climate change and social media. Pupils at LAD have an enriched, balanced and varied experience in school that allows those with different skill sets to be acknowledged and praised. All children are given a chance to shine, whether their strengths are academic or in other areas of development.
Although children are taught about the importance of mental health, we have an understanding of how young our children are and look to all stakeholders to ensure our support is age-appropriate and specific to individual needs. We encourage an open-door policy in which talking is encouraged but in which other communication methods are available so that no children are left without an outlet.
Did you know?
We have developed our own Wellbeing Strategy:
‘Choose to be kind’
- Wellbeing Lead: Mr. Andrew Foulds
- FLO: Mrs Anna Reid
We have a dedicated member of our team who leads the well-being at LAD. Our pupils, staff and parents know that we prioritise mental health and physical health above all else and work hard to ensure the children are well-rounded, healthy, happy adults of the future. This is echoed in our school motto: ‘determined, persistent, achievers’ and our mantra ‘Choose to be Kind’. We have also embedded the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ as a tool for the children to use as part of their daily lives.
Please view information regarding Leigh Academy Dartford being a Healthy School on the webpage linked below.
Emotional Health and Mental Wellbeing at Leigh Academy Dartford
Over the course of their education, children spend over 7,800 hours at school. With such a huge amount of time spent in the classroom, schools provide an ideal environment for promoting good emotional wellbeing and identifying early behaviour changes and signs of mental distress. The social and emotional skills, knowledge and behaviours that young people learn in the classroom can help them to build resilience and set the pattern for how they will manage their mental health throughout their lives. Emotional wellbeing is a clear indicator of academic achievement, success and satisfaction in later life. Evidence shows that mental health and wellbeing programmes in schools, can lead to significant improvements in children’s mental health, and social and emotional skills. Wellbeing provision in schools can also lead to reductions in classroom misbehaviour and bullying.
At Leigh Academy Dartford, emotional health and mental well being is paramount. Every class provides a wide range of activities that promote emotional health and mental well-being including a robust P.E. curriculum, worry boxes and opportunities for team building.
Wellbeing Workshops for Parents
Many workshops and courses are available to parents throughout the year in conjunction with our links to the NHS and wellbeing teams across Kent and Medway. These courses provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to improve their understanding of their child’s social and emotional needs which directly impacts their emotional health and wellbeing.
If you would like to know more then please contact Mrs Reid (FLO) or Mr Foulds (Wellbeing Lead) via the office – info@dartford.latrust.org.uk
Key Websites for Support and Information
- Kent Resilience Hub
The Kent Resilience Hub is a resource that helps young people, parents and carers, staff and practitioners to understand emotional wellbeing and resilience - Anna Freud
We listen to and learn from children and young people, work with them to build better solutions, and amplify their voices to aid better understanding of mental health conditions. - Mind – 5 Ways to Wellbeing
We’re Mind. We’re here to fight mental health. For support for respect, for you. - Place2be
We are committed to helping children with their mental health. Our approach to children’s mental health means we aim to intervene early to prevent life-long mental health issues.
- BBC Mindfulness
Play Dr Ranj’s mindfulness exercise to help you and your kids practice being mindful in everyday life. - Young Minds
Whether you want to understand more about how you’re feeling and find ways to feel better, or you want to support someone who’s struggling, we can help. - NHS – Every Mind Matters
Whether you want to understand more about how you’re feeling and find ways to feel better, or you want to support someone who’s struggling, we can help.