Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing    

Mental health is about our feelings, our thinking, our emotions and our moods. We all have feelings that come and go every day. However, as with our physical health, each of us can have problems with our mental health from time to time. These problems can stop us getting on with our lives and can change how well we feel, how we see the world, how we behave and how we get on with others.

By the time they leave primary school, 20% of children will have experienced mental health problems at least once in their lives.  (Centre for Mental Health and University College London.)

At Hillside First School, we have trained professionals that can help support your child’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. If you would like further information, please contact your child’s teacher, in the first instance, or Mrs Corrie (SENDCo).

What is ELSA?

An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant.

ELSAs are specialists with a wealth of experience of working with children and young people. ELSAs are trained and regularly supervised by Educational Psychologists. They can support children’s emotional development and help them cope with life’s challenges. ELSAs will also help children and young people to find solutions to problems they might have. At Hillside, our ELSA is Mrs Thomas.

Resources for parents

• Watch  Talking Mental Health (subtitled)
• Talking about mental health with your child:  Download tips for parents and carers.
• Five tips to handle the after-school ‘meltdown’.
• Download resources & activities to help children manage: worries.
• Download advice on how to prepare for school transition or change.
• Download coping cards