Long Crendon School is committed to creating and maintaining a mentally healthy school, where the children and staff’s mental wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds. Without positive mental health, it is difficult for children to access learning.  We are increasingly aware that pressures on our young people start earlier and earlier and we aim to help children navigate their way through some of the social and emotional challenges that they will face.

We do this in many ways, primarily through our PSHE curriculum. Using the Jigsaw curriculum, adapted to the specific needs of Long Crendon School, we support children to learn how to recognise and promote their own wellbeing.

Nurture groups run for a small groups of children in all year groups – to help with all areas of growing up! The group helps with processing emotions, working with a new peer group, accessing some strategies to help with anxiety, sleep or general wellbeing.  The school's Pastoral Support Officer, Mr Ball, works directly through these formal interventions as well as through informal support across the year. Generally, these are implemented when children are referred to Mr Ball by their teacher, parents, SENDCO or safeguarding team.

Forest School helps children to get outside and learn in a different environment and gain skills in practical areas and to also reduce stress by being active and mindful within nature.  It supports the curriculum and helps embed classroom learning in a practical way. Outdoor learning has been well documented and has been used successfully to support holistic learning in Primary Schools across the UK for many years.