Children experiencing difficulties with social, emotional health or mental health (SEMH)

This section includes all those pupils who experience short but significant periods of high anxiety, stress, distress or anger that may have an effect on their well-being or education.

It also includes young people who have a range of longer-term recognised mental health conditions.

For both groups, issues can include:

• Forming and maintaining relationships

• Bereavement

• Attitudes to attainment

• Attendance

• Self-esteem

• Life outside school

Every child at Hollywell Primary School can access:

• Quality First teaching with appropriate adaptive teaching (including best SEND practice)

• Understanding and support from all members of staff
• Access to assessment for identification of significant needs
• Transition support into new year groups and Key Stages
• Dedicated and caring staff who value all students

Support may include:

• Transition support arrangements – (this may involve support from external agencies such as the cognition and learning team, SFSIS, EYFSIS and SEMH Team)

• Interventions (behaviour/social skills/self-esteem/stress management)
• Social group interventions

• In-class support
• Drawing & Talking therapy
• ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) sessions
• In school counselling sessions

SEMH Support

At Hollywell Primary School we value the mental health of our children above all else. 

If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, or would like some support in managing this at home, please contact Mrs Sibley (SENCo and Mental Health Lead) or Mrs Ellis (Head Teacher).

Further information about Social, Emotional and Mental Health Problems

The BBC Newsround website is a great source of further information about child and adolescent mental health problems. Here is a short film about the importance of talking about your feelings and problems:

Inside My Head

This short film explores autism from the perspective of an autistic child, Rosie: 

My Autism and Me