Mental Health and Wellbeing

We encourage our children and adults in school to look after their physical, emotional, social and mental health.  Research shows that resilience and strength directly impacts on academic progress and attainment and that children who are able to express their emotions and seek help when things are tough are able to take these skills into their adult life. 

At Thorpe Hesley Primary School we are equipped to help our families and staff so please get in touch if you need support.

At Thorpe Hesley Primary School, we are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our children and families. Our newly created Wellbeing Team works in partnership with children, parents, and carers to offer tailored support and advice for a wide range of needs. The Wellbeing team comprises Donna Oakley, our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Wellbeing Team Lead; Sarah Hewitt, our Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding and Attendance Lead; and Becky Brooks, our Wellbeing Officer who is a Trauma informed practitioner. While our team is small, we collaborate closely with other school staff, including Lisa Shaw, our Inclusion Lead, your children’s class teachers, and our amazing team of support staff.

At our school, we are proud to offer bespoke support tailored to meet the unique needs of every child, whether that’s on a 1:1 basis, within a small group, or in sibling groups. We provide additional pastoral support for identified children, helping them navigate challenges such as managing friendships, understanding emotions, coping with anxiety, and promoting positive mental health and behaviour. 

We are extremely fortunate to work in partnership with ‘With Me in Mind’, a dedicated team of Mental Health Support Workers based in and around schools and colleges across Doncaster and Rotherham. This team helps to strengthen the support already provided by our school nurses, educational psychologists, and the voluntary sector, addressing mild to moderate mental health concerns directly within school. Moreover, they play a crucial role in helping children and young people with more severe mental health challenges to access the most appropriate support, serving as a vital link to specialist NHS services when needed.

In addition to working with children, our team also supports families by offering advice and guidance and signposting to external agencies when needed. We are committed to working with families to offer a comprehensive system of support for children, young people, and families. Our approach aims to address challenges and needs at the earliest possible stage, preventing problems from escalating. By working in partnership with families, we focus on providing the right support at the right time to improve outcomes and help families

If you would like to speak with a member of our Wellbeing Team or find out more about the support we can offer, please get in touch by telephone 01142570153 or via email on wellbeing.team.THP@nclt.ac.uk