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Wellbeing

‘Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.’ (World Health Organization)

At Reading School, we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our staff and student community. We pursue this aim using both universal, whole school approaches and specialised, targeted approaches aimed at vulnerable students. We recognise that student’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can affect their learning and achievement. The Department for Education (DFE) reinforces this with the statement: ‘in order to help their children succeed, schools have a role to play in supporting them to be resilient and mentally healthy.

Our aims are to:  

  • Promote positive mental health in all staff and students.  

  • Alert staff to early warning signs of mental ill health.  

  • Provide support to staff working with young people with mental health issues.  

  • Ensure that as part of their curriculum entitlement, we help students to learn about how they can stay mentally healthy.  

  • Teach students to identify the main risk factors that can adversely affect mental health.  

  • Help students understand how they can play a positive role in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.  

  • Ensure that children and young people are able to manage times of change and stress in their lives.  

  • Make sure students know that there is someone or somewhere they can contact if they need help or support.  

  • Support the parents and carers of students suffering mental ill health.  

Structure and lead staff  

At Reading School we have a comprehensive pastoral structure based around the Tutor, Head of House and Head of Key Stage.  In addition to this we have an experienced and proactive team in the Student Support Department who work in tandem with the pastoral team. While all staff have a responsibility to promote the mental health of students, the work is led by:  

  • Mr D McGall, Assistant Head and Pastoral Lead.

  • Mrs L Ayres, Assistant Head - Designated Child Protection Officer / Safeguarding Lead.  

  • Rev’d Dr C Evans, Deputy Head - Designated Child Protection Officer / Safeguarding Lead.  

  • Ms S Rogers, SEND Coordinator. 

  • School Counsellor to be booked via Student Support Services at studentservices@reading-school.co.uk.  

  • The School Nursing advice line is available to support children, young people and their families who live in West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell.  Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm and can give you the advice and support you need. Call us on 0300 365 0010

Teaching and learning about mental health  

Our PSHE curriculum contains opportunities that give factual information about mental wellbeing, and the signs of illness. We also help enable students to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding, language and confidence to seek help as needed for themselves or others. We follow the PSHE Association’s guidance in preparing our curriculum to ensure that we teach mental health and emotional wellbeing issues in a safe and sensitive manner.  

We are also developing a range of strategies and approaches which include:  

  • Student led activities, such as assemblies, peer mediation and mentoring.  

  • Whole school activities such as wellbeing week, displays and information around the school about positive mental health, staff mental health and wellbeing leaflets. 

Safeguarding and wellbeing

For further information please check the safeguarding page Reading School - Safeguarding (reading-school.co.uk)
Students also have access to the most up-to-date information about their own safeguarding and wellbeing via MSTeams MSTeams Student Channel for Safeguarding Wellbeing Inclusion
Photo / image with links of safeguarding flowchart Safeguarding Flowchart - STUDENTS 2023-24.pdf
Photo of wellbeing flowchart TBC

Covid-19 Symptoms

Check if your child has coronavirus symptoms.

Additional resources:

  1. Wellbeing Websites, Helplines and Apps docx
  2. Managing Anxiety over Covid-19.docx pdf
  3. Ways to Keep Positive in Self-Isolation.docx pdf
  4. Top Tips on Working from Home.docx pdf
  5. Tips for families during lockdown pdf
  6. Remote safeguarding for parents pdf
  7. The Five Ways to Wellbeing pdf
  8. Wellbeing Wednesday pdf
  9. Safer Internet Day pdf
  10. IMG_5564 jpg