At The Latymer School, we are deeply committed to fostering a culture of positive emotional wellbeing and mental wellness among our students and staff. We believe that promoting good mental health is essential to ensuring that every student feels content and secure within themselves, allowing them to truly flourish during their time with us. By cultivating emotional wellbeing, we enable our students to navigate life’s challenges, achieve their academic and personal potential, and contribute meaningfully to both the school and the wider community.

Whole-school approach
Our whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing involves every member of our school community, including students, parents, teachers, and support staff, in actively contributing to a supportive and inclusive environment. By prioritising mental health, we establish a foundation where effective teaching and learning can thrive, and each individual feels they belong and are valued. This strategic leadership across the school creates supportive systems, ensuring that practical strategies for emotional health become part of our everyday practices.

Pastoral programme
Our pastoral programme is integral to supporting the emotional and social development of our students. It includes:

• Whole school assemblies: These assemblies are designed to bring the entire school community together to discuss key themes related to emotional wellbeing, celebrate achievements, and reinforce our school values.
• Year assemblies: Tailored to the specific needs and experiences of each year group, these assemblies provide an opportunity to address age-relevant topics and support students in their personal development journey.
• Form time activities: Daily form time activities are structured to build relationships, promote self-awareness, and support students in managing their emotions. These activities are led by form tutors who play a key role in the pastoral care of students.

Pastoral support team
Our dedicated pastoral support team includes:

• Heads of Learning and Assistant Heads of Learning: these leaders coordinate pastoral care within their respective year groups, ensuring that all students receive the support they need.
• Pastoral Support Officers: they provide targeted support and guidance to students, working closely with families and external agencies when necessary.
• Form Tutors: as the first point of contact for students, form tutors offer daily support and guidance, playing a crucial role in fostering positive relationships and monitoring student wellbeing.
• School Counsellors: our two experienced school counsellors offer professional mental health support to students who need it, providing a safe and confidential space for students to explore their feelings and concerns.

Partnerships and support
We work in partnership with our local community and health services to provide robust support for our students when needed, creating clear pathways to access mental health services. These partnerships ensure that our students have access to the necessary resources and support, enhancing their ability to manage their emotional wellbeing effectively.

Curriculum and early intervention
Building resilience and strengthening emotional wellbeing are crucial to supporting our young people in realising their potential. Early intervention is key, and we focus on identifying potential issues early on and providing preventative support. Through personal, social, and health education (PSHE) and relationships and sex education (RSE), our curriculum is designed to give students the tools they need to build resilience, manage their emotions, and develop essential life skills.

These lessons, embedded throughout the curriculum, allow our students to engage with topics around mental health, safety, and wellbeing in a structured, supportive manner, helping to normalise conversations about mental health and reduce stigma.

Developing social and emotional skills
Social and emotional skills, such as resilience, self-awareness, and relationship-building, are vital life skills that enhance our students’ academic performance and motivation. These skills are taught and reinforced in various ways, from high-quality lessons to targeted programmes and interventions. We are committed to equipping our students with the coping strategies needed to thrive both academically and personally, ensuring that their time at The Latymer School is marked not only by achievement but also by a strong foundation for lifelong wellbeing.

Through this comprehensive approach to emotional wellbeing, The Latymer School aims to support every student in becoming a well-rounded individual, prepared to face the future with confidence and resilience.

OUR Vision Statement: Emotional Wellbeing - empowered to thrive

Our school is committed to providing a healthy and caring environment that promotes and supports positive mental health for our students, staff, and parents/carers. Recognising the profound link between emotional wellbeing, progress, and attainment, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where every member of our community feels supported, valued, and empowered.

By considering student and staff wellbeing in all aspects of school life, we create a positive, healthy environment that enhances student engagement, performance, and achievement, enabling everyone to develop and reach their full potential.

We embrace a whole-school approach, ensuring excellent support, understanding, and intervention for all individuals to maintain their positive wellbeing and mental health.

• Promoting awareness: mental health is a visible and integral part of daily school life, with everyone understanding its importance.
• Early intervention: we proactively identify and address mental health issues, providing timely and appropriate support.
• Inclusive support: our initiatives meet the diverse needs of our community, ensuring access to necessary resources and interventions.
• Building resilience: we help our students understand their emotions, build self-esteem, develop resilience, and navigate challenges.
• Engaging the community: we actively involve parents, pupils, and staff in open conversations about emotional wellbeing, fostering a culture of transparency and mutual support.

By embedding these principles in our policies, practices, and daily interactions, we ensure that emotional wellbeing and mental health remain at the core of our school's mission and values. Our commitment guarantees that every member of our community feels supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Wellbeing Award for Schools

We are excited to announce that The Latymer School has signed up to the Wellbeing Award for Schools, developed by Optimus Education in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB). This award focuses on strengthening our commitment to mental health and emotional wellbeing for both students and staff, embedding it within the school’s culture and making it a priority in every aspect of school life.

Our commitment to wellbeing
The Wellbeing Award is an opportunity for us to deepen our practices around mental health, ensuring that emotional wellbeing is seen as a shared responsibility among all members of our community. To achieve the award, we will demonstrate how we prioritise mental health as an integral part of school life, from early identification of issues to tailored support that meets the specific needs of our students and staff.

Whole-school involvement
The award process requires us to engage the whole school community - including students, staff and parents - in recognising the importance of mental health. We will gather their views and use their insights to shape our approach, ensuring that our strategies are inclusive and reflective of the diverse perspectives within our school.

Evaluation objectives
We will be evaluated on eight key objectives that encompass our overall commitment, efforts to promote wellbeing, and the effectiveness of our curricular and pastoral provisions. This includes gathering feedback from students and a sample of parents to ensure our approach is comprehensive and responsive to the needs of our community.

Building on our strengths
By pursuing the Wellbeing Award, we aim to continue building on our strengths in mental health provision and to further enhance our practices where needed. This award will not only recognise the excellent work already in place but also drive further development to ensure Latymer remains a place where everyone can flourish.

Through this initiative, we reaffirm our dedication to fostering an environment where emotional wellbeing is at the forefront, enabling our students and staff to thrive both academically and personally. We are excited about the journey ahead and look forward to the positive impact this will have on our school community.

Further support for students and parents/carers
While we offer robust internal support, some students and families may prefer assistance from external agencies. To help, we've compiled a list of local and national organisations that offer guidance and support.

This link includes helplines and websites, categorised for easy reference. Our goal is to ensure students receive the right level of care through appropriate professional pathways.

For more information and to access the resources, read the document below: