Mental Health & Wellbeing

Welcome to Our Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Page

At The Oaks Primary School, we believe that wellbeing and mental health are the foundation for learning, growth, and happiness.
Our commitment goes beyond academic success—we strive to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child, parent, and member of staff feels supported and valued.
We understand that life can bring challenges, and emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health. That’s why we take a proactive approach to Mental Health and Social/Emotional (MHSE) support. Through our dedicated team and input from parents, children, and staff, we offer a comprehensive wellbeing provision tailored to the needs of our school community.

On this page, you will find:

  • Information about our wellbeing approach and values
  • Practical tips and resources for families
  • Links to local and national mental health services
  • Details of how we listen to and act on the voices of our community

Together, we can ensure that everyone in The Oaks community feels mentally healthy, resilient, and ready to thrive.

Who is Leading the Work?

The wellbeing journey is being led by Mrs Baggley and Mrs Kumar, supported by a committed team of staff and Trustees. Parents and the wider community are also invited to take part, making this a truly collaborative effort.

What is Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing?

“Emotional wellbeing describes your mental state – how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life. Emotional wellbeing is essential for us to function and be happy.’ Mental health is defined as a ‘state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential”
-Mind, 2018

Our Wellbeing Vision

At The Oaks Primary School, we envision an environment where children feel happy, healthy, and safe—a place where they are supported, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Guided by our core values and aims, we foster a strong sense of community, equipping every child with the tools they need to succeed and to contribute positively to society.
We prioritise mental health and wellbeing, encouraging children to understand and care for their emotional wellbeing. By nurturing resilience and confidence, we lay the foundation for:
  • Academic success
  • Personal growth
  • The ability to thrive in life and face challenges with courage and optimism.

What We Do

At The Oaks Primary School, wellbeing and mental health are central to our ethos. We provide:
A nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and supported.
Dedicated wellbeing initiatives such as calming spaces, mindfulness activities, Well-Being Wednesday and emotional regulation strategies.
  • Access to professional support ensuring families and staff can get expert help when needed.
  • Regular wellbeing events and activities to promote positive mental health for children and parents.
  • Staff training in trauma-informed practice and mental health first aid, so every adult can respond effectively to emotional needs.

Why We Do It

We believe that happy, healthy children learn best. Mental health and emotional wellbeing are vital for:
  • Building resilience so children can cope with challenges and thrive.
  • Supporting academic success—a calm, confident child is ready to learn.
  • Creating a strong, caring community where families feel supported and connected.
  • Empowering staff and parents to model positive wellbeing for children.
  • Listening to voices—our approach is shaped by feedback from parents, children, and staff, ensuring it meets real needs.

Our Trauma-Informed Practice, Emotional Literacy, and Zones of Regulation

We recognise that some children may have experienced adversity or trauma, which can impact their ability to learn and form relationships. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that every child feels safe, understood, and supported. Staff are trained to respond with empathy and strategies that reduce stress and promote emotional security.
Alongside this, we prioritise emotional literacy—helping children to identify, understand, and express their feelings in healthy ways. Through dedicated lessons, resources, and daily interactions, we teach children the language of emotions, enabling them to develop self-awareness, empathy, and positive coping skills.
To support this, we use the Zones of Regulation framework.

Understanding Zones of Regulation

A Parent’s Guide
Download

Supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing for Families

At The Oaks Primary School, we understand that mental health and emotional wellbeing are just as important as physical health. Life can present challenges, and sometimes parents or carers may need extra support. To help, we have compiled a list of trusted mental health services and resources that you can access for guidance, advice, and practical help.
These services are designed to support you with any concerns related to mental health, stress, or emotional wellbeing—whether for yourself or your child. Please remember, reaching out for help is a positive step toward feeling better and ensuring your family’s wellbeing.

NSPCC

Recognising the signs that a child may be struggling with their mental health can be really hard. The NSPCC have advice to help you support children.

Visit

Young Minds

Young Minds have lots of practical advice and tips on supporting your child, from how to encourage your child to open up about their feelings to dealing with mental health services.

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NHS

This NHS website contains tips on what you need to know as a parent, the latest risks and how to seek help if you know someone at risk.

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PAUSE

Pause is a service delivered by The Children’s Society, in partnership with Forward Thinking Birmingham. They provide access to immediate support & speak to an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner.

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Compass Birmingham MHST

Birmingham Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) offers free, and confidential support to Children, Young People and Families with mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing needs.
Whether it’s feeling sad, scared, worried, or experiencing challenges like anger or frustration, Compass is here to connect you with the right help.

Visit

Mind

Mind is a leading mental health charity offering advice, support, and resources for anyone experiencing mental health challenges. They provide helplines, online tools, and local services to ensure no one faces mental health issues alone.

Visit

Resources

OnePlusOne provides evidence based resources that can be used by parents themselves or facilitated by practitioners to support reducing parental conflict.
There are 3 digital programmes available:
  • Me, You and Baby Too  – helps new and expectant parents adapt to the changes that parenthood can have on their relationship
  • Arguing Better – helps raise awareness of parental conflict and its impact on children. It gives parents the skills to cope with stress together and manage their conflict more constructively.
  • Getting it right for Children – helps separating parents see how they are putting their children in the middle of their conflict. It helps parents to develop positive communication skills so that they can parent co-operatively and work out solutions together.

One Plus One

Parent Resources
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Anxiety

Anxiety UK
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OCD

OCD UK
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Depression

Depression Alliance
Visit

Eating Disorders

B-eat
Visit

Eating Disorders

In Our Hands
Visit

Self-Harm

National Self-Harm Network
Visit

Self-Harm

Self Harm UK
Visit

Suicidal Thoughts

Papyrus
Visit

Championing young people’s mental health and well-being

Young Minds
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Advice and support

Mind
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E-Learning

Minded
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Tackling Stigma

Time to Change
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Challenging Attitudes

Rethink
Visit

Drug and Alcohol Support

Rehab 4 Addiction
Visit

Useful links

Safeguarding policies

View

Keeping Children Safe in Education

September 2026
Download

Operation Encompass

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View our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy