Student wellbeing and mental health

Student Wellbeing

At Cheam High School, we are committed to developing and maintaining positive emotional and mental health and general wellbeing in our school community for both students and staff.  We firmly believe that happy, secure students learn more effectively and are more confident and motivated with their studies. 

However, we recognise that feeling happy and secure at all times can be challenging for some students and that all of us can experience changes in our general wellbeing for a range of reasons.  Because of this, we promote a culture where all members of the school community feel valued and supported and all feel able to share concerns where they arise.

We promote this culture through:

  • High quality teaching and student support
  • Positive interactions between staff, students and home
  • Our pastoral support system which includes: Tutors, Year Teams, Safeguarding Leads, Personal Learning Support Unit (PLUS), Student Support Workers (SSW), the Education Welfare Officer (EWO), mentors and members of the Leadership Team attached to each year group
  • Extensive liaison with external services, where appropriate, to ensure that, as far as possible, students receive the support that they need
  • PSHE lessons which follow our bespoke Learning is Forever (LIFE) curriculum which is constantly reviewed and update to reflect students’ needs
  • Assemblies and tutor activities which focus on well-being and key aspects of safeguarding
  • Information shared in the weekly Cheam High Flyer and on the school website
  • HR processes within the school
  • Staff training to assist staff in identifying mental health warning signs and advising them on best practice strategies


The Education Wellbeing Service

At Cheam High School, we have Education Wellbeing Practitioners (EWPs) from the Education Wellbeing Service - Sutton’s Mental Health Support Team. EWPs are available to meet with students directly at school to offer guided self-help support for those experiencing anxiety or low mood.

They can provide support to young people who are:

  • Beginning to experience common mental health issues such as low mood, anxiety, or difficulties managing emotions.
  • Interested in engaging with CBT-based guided self-help, a structured and practical approach that involves completing tasks between sessions.
  • Able to attend 6-8 weekly sessions at school.
  • Dealing with difficulties that are manageable enough to benefit from an early intervention approach.
  • Not currently receiving support from CAMHS or Children and Family Services.

If you are interested to hear more about the Guided Self Help support that the Education Wellbeing Service can offer or would like to be referred to this service, please speak to your child's Year Team or the Safeguarding Team who can give you our referral form, or use this link: https://forms.office.com/e/9gnAZgbj6e to self-refer.

Feel free to explore their YouTube channel: Education Wellbeing Service - SWLSTG - YouTube as well, as it contains lots of videos that may be of interest to you or your family.  Further information can be found using the following links:

SWLSTG Education Wellbeing Teams: 5 Steps to Wellbeing and Services Overview (youtube.com)

NHS education Wellbeing Service. Secondary Application Form

EWP Secondary Poster

 

You can also find out more about other services which may be able to help your child with their mental health and/or wellbeing here.