Mental Health and Pastoral Leads
Every Hertfordshire school is asked to nominate a Mental Health Lead (MHL) and where possible a Deputy Lead (DMHL), who will be a key point of contact for emotional wellbeing/ mental health in the school, and a key link with external provision/whole school models. The MHL/DMHL role description can be read below.
Senior Mental Health Lead training
The Department for Education (DfE) is offering a grant of £1,200 for eligible state-funded schools and colleges in England to train a senior mental health lead to develop and implement a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. This training is not compulsory, but it is part of the government’s commitment to offer this training to all eligible schools and colleges by 2025.
Primary and Secondary MHL and pastoral networks
These networks provide useful opportunities to hear updates from local services. The primary network meets termly online and the secondary network meets face to face at Townsend school.
Dates for 2023-24 tbc
| Primary network | Thursday 4th November 2024, 1.30pm – 3pm Thursday 13th March 2025, 1.30pm – 3pm Thursday 12th June 2025, 1.30pm – 3pm | Links to join the meetings are in the flier below contact: audrey.tonge@hertfordshire.gov.uk |
| Secondary network | Dates coming soon
| contact: istuckey121@townsend.herts.sch.uk |
Resources from the Primary and Secondary Network meetings
There is further information in the SEMH needs pages
Emotional Mental Health Wellbeing schools mark
The new Mental Health schools mark has now been launched for Primary and Secondary school settings.
The process involves schools submitting the new self-review document, followed by an Assessor visit from a member of the EMWiE team.
Once a school has decided they would like to undertake the Emotional Mental Wellbeing in Schools Mark, they notify the EMWiE team. They then have 3 months to complete the self-review document, by rating their existing practices as developing, effective or advanced against the criteria listed. These ratings help schools to identify strengths, and highlight areas that can be further developed as part of a Mental Health Action Plan. During the Assessor visit, the school has opportunities to discuss their self-review, providing evidence and examples to support the rating.
Anna Freud Centre - Mental Health Resource Hub
This resource hub has been created in partnership with and funded by the Department for Education, with new resources added regularly.
https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/whole-school-or-college-resources/
Useful Resources
CYPMHS Monthly Newsletters
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing news and information for professionals working with CYP and their parents/carers in Herts.