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Mental Health & Wellbeing

Mental health & wellbeing for our children

At St John the Baptist C of E Primary School, we take a multi‑layered, whole‑school approach to supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Every child is unique, so our provision is designed to be flexible and responsive, ensuring that each child can access the support they need, when they need it. This forms part of our ordinarily available provision and is woven throughout daily school life. At St John the Baptist C of E Primary School, we take a multi‑layered, whole‑school approach to supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Every child is unique, so our provision is designed to be flexible and responsive, ensuring that each child can access the support they need, when they need it. This forms part of our ordinarily available provision and is woven throughout daily school life.

What we do to support our children's mental health & wellbeing 

  •  A tailored Personal Development Learning programme to ensure children are taught about their mental health and wellbeing. A whole school approach with progression of skills across the key stage. This supports the children to develop emotional literacy, gain an understanding of how to support their physical and mental health and regulate their emotions.
  • A mental health lead across the school for our children and our staff.
  • A celebration of key events throughout the year to promote positive mental health and provide opportunities for children to discuss strategies they use to support their mental health. By celebrating key events, we aim to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health and encourage an openness to talk. 
  • Worry boxes in each classroom. These provide children with an opportunity to share anything they may be feeling or share with someone any support they may need.
  • External visitors to discuss key topics such as mental health and self-esteem. These visitors have already seen excellent engagement from the children and their honesty and openness has been praised by our local mental health support team. 

The St John’s Way: Pause, Plan, Progress

At St John’s, we believe that children learn best when they feel calm, safe and ready to engage. When children are not yet ready to learn, we use The St John’s Way – Pause, Plan, Progress: a simple and effective regulation tool designed using Kitt Messenger, Paul Dix research and the Zones of Regulation, adapted specifically for our children.

This approach helps pupils recognise their feelings and choose strategies that support them to settle, regulate and move positively back into learning.

Pause

Children learn to notice:

  • “I am not ready to learn.”
  • “I know this because I feel…” This helps them identify emotions and physical sensations that may be affecting their readiness.

Plan

Children explore strategies that help them regulate, such as:

  • Breathing exercises
  • Movement breaks These tools support children to calm their bodies and minds.

Progress

Children reflect on how they feel after using their strategies:

  • “I am ready to learn.”
  • “I now feel…” This empowers them to recognise positive change and return to learning with confidence.

The St John’s Way is used consistently across the school and forms an important part of our inclusive, nurturing ethos.

My Happy Mind

We are proud to launch myHappymind, an NHS‑backed mental health and wellbeing curriculum that helps children build resilience, self‑esteem and lifelong habits for positive mental health in school from September 2026.

myHappymind is grounded in neuroscience and positive psychology. It teaches children how their brains work, why emotions matter, and how they can proactively strengthen their wellbeing. This preventative approach aligns beautifully with our Christian values of Courage, Compassion and Creativity, helping children understand themselves deeply and respond to challenges with confidence.

A Whole‑School Approach

myHappymind supports not only children, but also the adults around them.  

  • Staff access a CPD‑certified wellbeing programme.
  • Families can use the Parent App, ensuring consistent language and strategies at home. You can find instructions on how to link to the app attached to this page below.

Engaging, Inclusive Curriculum

  • Fully digital lessons with animations, songs, quizzes and friendly characters.
  • Tailored versions for Early Years to Year 6, including transition support.
  • Structured around five modules: Meet Your Brain, Celebrate, Appreciate, Relate and Engage.
  • Inclusive content designed to support neurodiverse children, including a dedicated Special Schools Programme.

By embedding myHappymind into everyday practice, we help children grow into thoughtful, compassionate and courageous learners who are ready for the world.

https://myhappymind.org/programmes/

Please follow this link for a short introductory video about the MyHappymind programme 

https://myhappymind.lpages.co/myhappymind-parent-app-introduction/

Please see below to find out more about how to download the MyHappymind App

Getting on the APP

Dear St John’s Families,

We have introduced a programme to all year groups at school called myHappymind. myHappymind is all based around helping children to understand how their brain works and to support them in developing positive skills and habits to be their very best selves!

myHappymind is delivered in schools by class teachers through a series of interactive lessons and then the children apply these learnings throughout the day.

To further embed this learning, myHappymind has developed a Parent App. These resources can be accessed online on your computer, or through an app on your phone. The Parent App will support you as a parent in understanding what your child is learning, activities for you to do together at home and also a Kids Zone featuring myHappymind Games plus much more!

To access these materials just go to https://myhappymind.org/parent-resources to create your free account. You will need to enter your name, email, and authentication code.

Your authentication code is 116314                                                                                                                                                                

Or simply scan this QR code to sign up

Once you have created your account, you will receive an email with the next steps on downloading the app.

We really encourage you to make use of this free content so that you can support your child in getting the best out of the curriculum.

If you have any questions about myHappymind, please contact your class teacher.

If you have any technical questions about accessing the resources, please contact hello@myHappymind.org

Want to learn more? Check out myHappymind founder Laura Earnshaw’s best selling book on Amazon.

 

 St John the Baptist is also a Stormbreak School. Stormbreak supports children’s mental health through purposeful movement, helping them develop sustainable, transferable skills that support wellbeing throughout childhood and into adult life.

Stormbreak focuses on five key concepts:

  • Relationships
  • Resilience
  • Self‑care
  • Hope and optimism
  • Self‑worth

Children take part in Stormbreak activities in class, during collective worship and even at lunchtime. These sessions help children talk openly about mental health while engaging in movement that supports emotional regulation and confidence.

Mental health & wellbeing section for our parents

This area is to help provide support for you and help to support your children.

In this area we will provide links to websites where you can find help and advice, and documents offering support and guidance or stories to share with your children. 

MyHappymind Parent App (please see more details and how to access it above)

The myHappymind Parent App includes a wide range of resources on topics such as:

  • Self‑regulation
  • Emotional‑based school avoidance
  • Separation anxiety
  • Speech and language
  • Neurodiversity
  • Grief
  • Sleep
  • School readiness

We strongly encourage families to explore these resources to help build a shared language of wellbeing between home and school.

https://myhappymind.org/programmes/

The Good Mental Health Handbook: A Guide for Parents and Carers
Mental Health Information and Events for Parents
CAMHS Support Videos

Please take a look at the following 10-15 min films focussed on supporting primary aged young people with their mental health. It is a series of activities they can try which will support good mental health. All the films do a check in which encourages young people to think about and understand their emotions:

1.    Soothing Rhythm Breathing https://youtu.be/vogqBB1Roos

2.    Peaceful Place imagery  https://youtu.be/HwFh4GeINdk

3.    Activity and Boredom Jar https://youtu.be/LS8MOyukIXo

4.    Making a Self Soothe Box https://youtu.be/NT0DVXMpsPs

5.    Muscle Relaxation https://youtu.be/E4C_r5jQJQA

6.    Grounding Exercise https://youtu.be/Oywr4afoB3Q

7.    Body Scan https://youtu.be/VFNqJiGNIB8

8.    5 Finger Positive https://youtu.be/k7UNfN4vB1A

9.    Breathing Techniques https://youtu.be/OnGm9c6cPB8

10. Goal Setting https://youtu.be/6xZu4wnHnfw

11. Getting Sleep https://youtu.be/iXGzz_fpljc

12. Positive Affirmations https://youtu.be/fqVaFNbQYh0

13. Colour Breathing https://youtu.be/MSuORDhCSpA

14. Our Bodies https://youtu.be/azNez8Q8vBk

Useful websites

  • Rehab 4 AddictionFind drug and alcohol rehab or outpatient treatment in Hampshire.

  • SpotlightSpotlight are a charity, who provide free/low-cost activities for children and young people across Hampshire, which help them to increase confidence and self-esteem. As well as, fun activities, they offer emotional and practical support for children for mental health. They provide inclusive activities, including after-school clubs, holiday clubs, performing arts activities, arts and crafts, sports, outdoor activities and trips. They also have a food bank, clothing bank, care packages, child and youth support and offer family support services.

  • The Education HubMental health resources for parents, carers and school staff

  • Childline - Calm ZoneBreathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress for children

  • Every Mind MattersEvery Mind Matters includes an online tool and email journey to support everyone to feel more confident in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing. It also includes a section for parents and carers on looking after children and young people during the pandemic

  • Guidance on Supporting ChildrenPHE's guidance on supporting children and young people s mental health and well-being

  • Online Educational ResourcesThe Governments online educational resources for home education with a section on mental wellbeing

  • Department for EducationDfE guidance for supporting children and young people’s mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak

  • Young MindsVisit the Coronavirus advice and mental health support advice Mental Health Foundation - Top tips for open and honest conversation regarding the pandemic

  • Child BereavementWe help children and young people (up to age 25), parents, and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We also provide training to professionals, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

  • Mental Wellbeing HampshireMental Wellbeing Hampshire provides a summary of organisations in Hampshire which support children, young people and adults with trusted mental health services. You can find information to help with common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and stress, as well as advice on where to go for urgent help.

  • Minded OrgThis session acts as an introduction to the Core MindEd session (Flashbacks, Trauma and Bullying) but comes at it from a parent / carer’s perspective. It also provides parents and carers with initial guidance and then points them towards that core session. It briefly covers head injury in terms of likelihood or not of subsequent trauma but then the focus is on when to worry about PTSD.

  • Minded OrgThis brief session aims to highlight some key important tips and points in dealing with death and loss. It then points users to the existing materials on the rest of the portal.

Children and young people can access free confidential support anytime from voluntary and community sector organisations by texting SHOUT to 85258, calling Childline on 0800 1111 or the Mix on 0808 808 4994.

  1. My Happymind Overview pdf
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