Mental Health and Well Being
Meet the team:
Mr Scott is our Mental Health Lead. He attends Mental Health Network Meetings to stay informed about current practices and works closely with colleagues to ensure our curriculum and assemblies actively support our pupils' mental health and well-being. In addition, Mr. Scott ensures that we participate in key Mental Health Awareness Days to further promote positive well-being across our school community.
If you would like any information about mental health and well-being in our curriculum, you can message Mr Scott on Class Dojo or make an appointment with Mr Scott via the school office.
Our ELSA Team
We are proud to offer an established ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) programme to support pupils with their emotional development and well-being. Our ELSA team is made up of:
· Mrs Beardmore
· Mrs Naylor
· Mrs Parker
Our trained ELSAs deliver dedicated sessions that help pupils understand and manage emotions, build resilience, develop social skills, improve self-esteem, and feel more confident in school. Children are referred through class teachers and SLT, and sessions take place in a calm, supportive environment tailored to each child’s needs.
Our ELSA programme plays a vital role in ensuring pupils feel heard, supported, and ready to succeed both academically and socially.
Mrs. Weston is our dedicated PSHE Lead. Her role is to liaise with PSHE leads across The Harmony Trust and stay up to date with current knowledge and best practices in PSHE education. This ensures that our curriculum remains relevant, effective, and supportive of our pupils' well-being.
Our Commitment to Well-being at Alvaston Junior Academy
At Alvaston Junior Academy, we believe that a child's well-being is essential to their learning and overall success. Our Harmony Model Curriculum takes this belief to heart, ensuring that both the mental health and physical well-being of our pupils are at the core of their educational journey. We understand that children cannot truly flourish if their emotional and physical needs are not met, which is why we are committed to offering a comprehensive curriculum that nurtures a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Through our Harmony Model, we provide an environment where pupils can make informed and positive choices for their mental and physical health. As educators, we recognise the importance of teaching children not only the value of maintaining well-being but also how to seek help when needed and use the strategies they have learned to support themselves.
Our curriculum integrates a variety of learning opportunities, including PSHE, science, Physical Education, after-school clubs, activities, assemblies, and whole-school events dedicated to promoting healthy living. By strategically planning these experiences, we ensure that our children develop the tools they need to maintain balanced minds and bodies, contributing to their happiness and long-term well-being.
Derbyshire Healthcare
Click here to visit the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Website. It is packed full of support services, toolkits and information about how to get medical help for you and your family.
Our Early Help Offer
We are dedicated to supporting our students' well-being and success. Our Early Help Offer provides guidance and support to families when challenges arise, helping to prevent concerns from growing. We work closely with parents, carers, and external services to offer tailored support for issues such as behaviour, emotional well-being, and attendance. We also have access to Family Hubs located across Derby, which offer additional services and support. For more information or support, please contact the school office — we’re here to help.
Physical Activity
Physical activity plays a vital role in promoting the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all children and young people within our school and its wider community. The positive links between health, physical activity, and overall well-being are well recognised. Guidelines for children and young people aged 5 to 18 years recommend the following:
· At least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day
· Activities that strengthen muscles and bones at least three times a week
· Limiting time spent being sedentary for long periods
All our children receive the full Physical Education curriculum entitlement, including swimming, invasion games, and field and net games. We are proud to have Premier Sports coaches delivering high-quality sessions.
Food and nutrition:
Mrs. Bower works closely with our catering team, ASPENS, to ensure that all pupils who receive school lunches are provided with a balanced and nutritious meal. In addition to this, within Science, PSHE, and Design and Technology, children learn about the principles of a healthy, nutritional diet and how dietary choices can impact a healthy lifestyle.
If you would like more information about ASPENS, you can visit their website here: ASPENS Services.
For additional resources on healthy eating and nutrition, please visit the following links:
Our networks:
We work closely with Compass Changing Lives to support children in need. Compass Changing Lives provides prevention and early intervention emotional wellbeing and mental health support to children, young people, and families (CYPFs) across Derby and Derbyshire.
If you need any additional information or would like to make a referral, please visit their website: Compass Changing Lives.
Supporting Your Child with Anxiety
Is your child struggling with anxiety at home? We understand that this can be challenging for both children and their families. Here is a useful pack designed to provide guidance and support for managing anxiety at home:
This resource offers practical advice, strategies, and helpful information to support your child’s emotional well-being. Remember, you are not alone, and there are many resources available to help you and your child through these challenges.
Relationships and Health Education:
At Alvaston Junior Academy, we are committed to ensuring that all our pupils are well-prepared for the next stage of their lives and beyond. Our strong Relationships and Health Education (RHE) curriculum is closely linked to our focus on character development, delivered through the values and principles of the Harmony Pledge. We recognise that Relationships and Health Education plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of our learners. By providing them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate relationships, emotions, and personal challenges, we help to promote resilience and positive mental well-being.
Our RHE Curriculum Aims:
· Provide supportive and sensitive discussion spaces
· Prepare pupils for puberty with age-appropriate understanding
· Empower pupils to be safe, healthy, and happy
· Equip children to stay safe in real life and online
· Foster self-respect, confidence, empathy, and identity
· Teach that families take many forms
· Teach correct vocabulary for body awareness
· Support development of well-being and self-esteem
At Alvaston Junior Academy, we are dedicated to nurturing confident, informed, and resilient young people who are prepared to thrive in their future lives.
How to take care of yourself and others:
Stay Connected
Stay calm
Strategies for dealing with stressful situations at home
Contact Helplines and resources
Young Minds Crisis Messenger service: Save our Messenger number on your phone. Text YM to 85258 for free 24/7 mental health support if you are having a crisis.
Emergency services (999): If you or someone you live with is seriously injured, call 999.
www.childline.org.uk: If you're under 19 you can confidentially call, email or chat online about any problem big or small freephone 24/7 helpline: 0800 1111Sign up for a childline account on the website to be able to message a counsellor anytime without using your email address chat 1:1 with an online advisor
www.samaritans.org: If you're in distress and need support, you can ring Samaritans for free at any time of the day or night. freephone (UK and RI): 116 123 (24 hours) or email: jo@samaritans.org
www.themix.org.uk: If you're under 25 you can talk to The Mix for free on the phone, by email or on their webchat. You can also use their phone counselling service, or get more information on support services you might need. Freephone: 0808 808 4994 (1pm - 11pm)
www.womensaid.org.uk: If you think you may be experiencing domestic abuse and you identify as a woman, you can talk to Women's Aid for free and confidential support email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk. You can also chat to a support worker using their free instant messenger service, Mon-Fri (10am-12pm)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk: If you have money or work worries, Citizen's Advice can help freephone: 03444 111 444 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or text service: 03444 111 445. You can talk to a debt adviser online for free Mon-Fri, 8am-7pm. For advice on anything else, you can chat to an adviser online for free Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm.
