At Horton St Michael’s CE Academy, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils, their families and our staff. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play.
At our school we aim to:
Mental Health Action Plan 2025-2026
Mental Health Action Plan 2024-2025
Mental Health Leaflet for Parents
Mental Health Staffordshire Support
Staffordshire Connects (children's mental health support pathway)
NHS North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare
The children love spending with Claire from Relax Kids. She helps them to recognise their emotions and to know that all feelings are valid. She teaches the children breathing techniques to help them to feel calm. Other activities include positive affirmations and recognising how others are feeling.
At Horton we are lucky to have access to Emily – our Mental Health Support Team Worker.
Mental Health Support Team – North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
Hi! My name is Emily and I am apart of the Mental Health Support Team working within Horton St Michaels First School.
My job is to support the school’s whole school approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing as well as work with pupils who may need support with such things as anxiety, low mood, sleep or problem solving. I can work with children on a 1:1 basis, in groups or even a whole class. Working with a child’s difficulties 1:1 would mean doing sessions with their parent or carer as evidence tells us that this most effective way to support difficulties for children under 11. I’m also here to help their parents feel confident in supporting their child’s mental health.
Emily is currently running ‘Drawing and Talking’ groups within school.
Drawing and Talking is a creativity-based intervention that can help children feel better when they are sad, worried or confused. Sometimes it’s hard for children to say how they feel with words. Drawing can help them show their feelings and talking about their pictures with other children along with a trained practitioner, can help them understand and feel better about what’s inside while showing them that other children feel the same way too.
If you have any questions for Emily or would like to arrange to meet with her please get in touch with the school office.
Each term we hold a ‘Happy Minds, Happy Me,’ day. We take part in lots of fun activities. These might include stroking animals to help us feel calm and happy, taking part in an activity that we love such as baking or enjoying learning a new sport. In our recent session children enjoyed being outside, relaxing listening to the birds, working as a team to play parachute games, learning a new skill – origami and singing adding sign language to our songs.
