Leadership and management
A whole school approach involves a school leadership team that:
- understands the links between mental health and achievement
- champions and supports mental health and wellbeing for children and staff
- supports in a practical way as part of improvement planning
Supportive school climates have strong and positive discipline with clear expectations.
Clear policies and practice
The leadership team provide clear boundaries and robust policies. Your school applies the policies consistently.
We recommend developing a mental health policy. The policy should aim to:
- promote positive mental health in all staff and pupils
- increase understanding and awareness of common mental health problems
- alert staff to early warning signs of mental ill health
- provide support to staff working with pupils with mental health problems
- provide support to pupils suffering mental ill health, their peers, parents and carers
- provide appropriate support to parents and carers suffering mental ill health
The school’s mental health policy should also link to policies on behaviour, diversity and safeguarding. These should challenge prejudice of:
- ability
- disability
- gender
- race
- sexual orientation
- social status
Schools need strong anti-bullying and homophobia policies and practice, linked with e-safety policies.
Leadership resources
Each school or college should have a MHEW Lead. They will lead the whole school approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Mental Head Lead role guidance [684.3 KB] [docx]
- MHEW governors checklist [109.2 KB] [docx]
- Governors checklist update [207.2 KB] [docx]
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