Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Greentrees, the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils and their families is a key priority. We are committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and equipped to manage their wellbeing. Here is how we support mental health across our school community:

Dedicated Mental Health Lead: 

Mrs Helen Cole is our Mental Health Lead and acts as the first point of contact for pupils, parents, and staff seeking support or advice on mental health and wellbeing matters. 

Emotional Literacy Support and Family Support:

Mrs Sam Male is our trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) and Family Support Assistant (FSA).

• As an ELSA, she offers one-to-one and group support to help pupils build confidence, improve social skills, regulate emotions, and develop resilience. Support can range from one-off check-ins to structured 6-week programmes.

• As an FSA, she works closely with families to provide guidance, signposting, and support in areas such as housing, financial concerns, parenting, and strengthening the home-school partnership.

Please see this leaflet for further information.

Mindfulness Programme:

Our whole-school mindfulness approach is led by Mrs Godden, using the Paws b and dots programmes:

• dots (ages 3–8): A 30-week programme introducing mindfulness through play, movement, and sensory activities.

• Paws b (ages 7–11): A 12-week course helping older pupils build awareness, emotional balance, and focus.

Older children can become Mindfulness Ambassadors, helping to support their peers in developing calm, resilience, and awareness.

These programmes aim to build:

• Skills for happiness and wellbeing

• Strategies for calm and stress reduction

• Healthy coping mechanisms for anxiety and worry

• Improved focus, learning, and decision-making

• Stronger relationships

• Self-awareness and emotional literacy

Our Mindfulness Themes:

• Awareness – Developing present-moment focus through breath, movement, stillness, and attention.

• Connection – Encouraging empathy, gratitude, and understanding our place in the world.

• Emotion – Building emotional literacy, balance, and healthy decision-making skills.

By introducing mindfulness early, we equip pupils with a lifelong toolkit for managing stress and building emotional resilience.

Worry Monsters: 

We understand that not all children feel comfortable speaking openly about their worries. Our Worry Monsters offer a gentle, discreet way for children to share what is on their mind by writing down their thoughts and placing them in the monster’s mouth. This can help us identify and address concerns early on.