Mental Health and Wellbeing
At St Michael's, our Christian vision shapes all that we do. We are a caring and inclusive community where staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure every young person has the opportunity to grow in body, mind and spirit, flourish as a child of God, and experience the joy and hope of "life in all its fullness".
We recognise that positive mental health is fundamental to learning, personal development and overall wellbeing. Our aim is to promote good mental health for all pupils through a graduated and responsive approach.
We provide Universal support through a whole-school culture that promotes wellbeing, resilience and positive relationships for all. Where additional needs are identified, pupils may access Universal+ provision, followed by more Targeted interventions and, where required, Targeted+ support through specialist services and multi-agency working.
By working closely with pupils, families and external professionals, we strive to ensure that every young person receives the right support at the right time.
St Michael's Family Help Offer: A Graduated Approach to Supporting Pupil Wellbeing
At St Michael's, we all play an active role in promoting and supporting the wellbeing of our pupils and families. We do this through a graduated approach of Universal, Universal+, Targeted and Targeted+ support, ensuring that every pupil can access the right help at the right time.
Our Universal Offer is available to all pupils. Form Tutors are often a child's first point of contact, as they see pupils every day and build strong, supportive relationships. Tutors provide guidance, signpost pupils to appropriate support services and complete 'Every Child Belongs' interviews (ECBs) throughout the year to monitor wellbeing and identify any emerging concerns. Pupils are also encouraged to access our KS3 and KS4 Wellbeing Clubs, which are open to all and focus on topics such as resilience, friendships, emotional wellbeing, anxiety management, self-esteem and exam stress.
Where a pupil requires additional support, Universal+ provision may be put in place. This could include regular check-ins with a member of the pastoral team, small group interventions, mentoring or other targeted strategies designed to meet an identified need.
If concerns continue or more specialist support is required, pupils may access Targeted provision. This involves support from external agencies and specialist services, accessed through referral processes. School staff will work closely with families to identify the most appropriate service and support available.
For pupils with more complex or significant needs, Targeted+ provision offers a higher level of intervention. These specialist services are limited in availability and are accessed following careful assessment of need by the Pupil Manager, SENDCo and other relevant professionals. In many cases, support at this level is considered after strategies and interventions from earlier stages have been explored.
Where appropriate, referrals for services such as Early Help Assessments or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) may be recommended when it is identified that a pupil or family would benefit from more intensive specialist support.
If you have any concerns about your child's wellbeing, we encourage you to contact school and speak to their Form Tutor in the first instance.
Working together, we can ensure that every young person receives the support they need to flourish during their time at St Michael's.
As part of our Universal Offer, we provide pupils with a wellbeing signposting poster to ensure they know where to access support, advice and guidance whenever they need it. This includes both school-based support and external services. A copy of the poster is available below.
