At St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School we have worked hard to implement positive mental health and wellbeing  throughout the school whilst also providing the children with learning opportunities in regards to this subject. This has been done through an assortment of different activities including us as a school participating in: Anti Bullying Week, Children's Mental Health Week, Connecting with Nature - Mental Health Awareness. The children take part in regular lessons that include work around resilience, feelings, the importance or talking, mindfulness, health and wellbeing and internet safety, just to name a few.

The impact of this has been amazing, our children can quite confidently discuss how they feel and most children are able to regulate these feelings, explain the meaning of resilience and how to become more resilient, discuss the importance of positive mental health and the links between mental and physical health. The children take part in five-minute mindfulness sessions each day and are building good emotional intelligence. 

Mental Health Awareness Week - 10th-16th May.

The theme was 'connect with nature'. We went outdoors and enjoyed our surroundings, and took some time to take in the fresh air.

The children took part in a range of outdoor activities including artwork and made pictures using things they found outside.

At St Francis Xavier, we believe it is important to support every individual who is involved with our School. We believe that good pastoral support focuses on nurturing the individual needs of each person.

All staff as St Francis consistently model to students how to look after themselves and others; encouraging them to seek help, support or advice whenever they need it. Pastoral care underpins personal development and we know from experience that with outstanding pastoral care, students feel they belong and their self-esteem is able to flourish because they feel valued and cared for.

Supporting the pastoral needs of pupils sometimes involves working with external agencies. In these situations, we ensure that confidential, professional, non-judgemental and sensitive service is provided.

The role of the Pastoral Support Team:

• To support and work alongside parents in addressing pastoral concerns impacting on their child’s learning and development.
• To work with staff in ensuring good pupil support and build upon the caring and respectful relationships that exist between staff, pupils and families.
• To provide specialist counselling to support individual children; listening and talking to children who may need support in a variety of pastoral issues, for example, self-esteem and confidence, bereavement, managing feelings, anxieties/worries, separation and developing social and friendships skills.
• Responding to situations as they arise within school.
• Meeting with parents/carers to discuss issues relating to their child.
• To ‘signpost’ families to outside services for appropriate provision and support.

Childrens Mental Health Week!

This years theme is 'express yourself.' All of our children will be getting involved throughout the week and taking part in different activities.