At St Mary’s Infants, we believe that mental health and wellbeing are just as important as physical health. Our staff are trained to understand the vital role mental wellbeing plays in ensuring that children feel safe, happy, and ready to learn. We strive to create a nurturing and resilient school environment that supports the wellbeing of both pupils and staff.

We promote healthy lifestyles and emotional resilience through our whole-school approach, which is embedded across our PSHCE, Science, PE, and Computing curriculum, as well as many other areas of school life.

Some children may require more targeted support. We work in partnership with external agencies and professionals, including access to counselling and therapeutic services through NESSie, who support the mental health of children and young people in North Hertfordshire.

In addition, our Baldock group of schools benefits from a dedicated Family Support Worker, who provides practical and emotional support for families in need.

If you would like specific advice or guidance, please contact our SENCo through the school office.

What to Do If You’re Worried About Your Child’s Mental Health or Wellbeing

Everyone faces challenges at times, and it’s completely normal to need extra emotional support now and then. If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health:

• Speak to your child’s class teacher, out mental health lead or our SENCo . We may be able to offer school-based support or help you access the right services.
• Speak to your GP. They can provide medical advice and referrals.
• If your child is already open to Specialist CAMHS, please contact their duty team using the information provided to you by the Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust.
• If your child is not known to CAMHS, contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) on 0300 777 0707 or email: hpft.spa@nhs.net to seek support.
• In an emergency, please call 999 or go to A&E.

Support and Resources

We encourage parents to explore the Just Talk Herts page for parents, which offers a wide range of trustworthy advice and tools to help support your child’s mental health:

👉 Visit: JustTalk Herts – Advice for Parents

There, you’ll find information and resources covering topics such as:

• Anxiety and worry
• Anger and behaviour
• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
• Bereavement support
• Managing change
• Parental mental health
• Supporting neurodiverse children
• General emotional wellbeing

This page also links to local services, helplines, apps, activities, and further reading for both parents and children.

We are committed to working together with families to promote positive mental health, and encourage open conversations and proactive support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we’re here to help.