Ethos and environment
A whole school approach develops a positive ethos where everyone feels they belong.
There is a commitment from everybody to welcome, respect and include. This builds confidence that others will listen and understand.
A key starting point is an emphasis on strengths and abilities to develop a supportive culture in which:
- Talking about emotions and feelings, mental health and wellbeing is the norm.
- It is acceptable to acknowledge difficulties and ask for help.
- You can provide extra input to those with more serious problems in a joined-up way, without stigma.
- The whole school has the skills and attitudes to support those with greater needs.
Schools with a positive ethos
In practice, schools and classrooms with these core values and attitudes have:
- low levels of conflict and disruptive behaviour
- smooth moves from one type of activity to another
- appropriate ways to express emotion
- respectful communication and problem solving
- warm, supportive responses to individual pupils and needs
Ethos and environment resources
Mental health policy and procedures guidance [783.7 KB] [docx]
Relationship policy template [684.3 KB] [docx]
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