Whole school approach (WSA)
A mentally healthy school or college is one that adopts a whole school/college approach to mental health and wellbeing. This brings the whole school/college together.
It needs partnership working between:
- senior leaders
- teachers and school staff
- parents and carers
- the wider community
This broad approach is more effective than focusing on only one or two parts of school/college life.
Providing healthy and happy school/college environments for children and young people, and staff:
- supports effective learning
- prepares children and young people with their readiness to learn
A whole school/college approach to mental health and wellbeing is a process, not a one-off activity.
The following pages provide resources and information based on the eight key principles of a whole school/college approach.
The Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing (MHEW) Audit is now available through Evaluate My School (EMS), making it easier for settings to access, complete and monitor their audit activity in one place. By sitting alongside the Inclusion and Safeguarding audits, schools and settings can take a more joined-up approach to improvement planning, self-evaluation and monitoring.
The audit is available in three versions to meet the needs of different settings:
- Early Years
- Primary/Secondary
- Post-16
The benefits of hosting the MHEW Audit within EMS provides a streamlined, user-friendly platform that supports evidence-based self-evaluation, action planning and continuous improvement. The audit helps settings demonstrate how they are meeting their statutory duties relating to safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion, while aligning with national mental health and wellbeing guidance, including the Department for Education’s whole-school and college approach to mental health and wellbeing.
To access the MHEW Audit, please contact mhew@eastsussex.gov.uk.
