Wellbeing and Mental Health 

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At Abingdon House School, our students’ happiness and wellbeing lies at the heart of everything that we do.

 

Led by our Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, and our Head of Behavioural Support and Wellbeing, Abingdon House School is committed to and delivering on:

 

• establishing a whole-school approach to mental health and well-being where positive mental health and wellbeing are fundamental to the values, ethos and culture of the school

• creating a school environment where pupil and staff mental health and wellbeing is regarded as everybody's business

• using the reframe/regulate/relate/reflect model of supporting mental health and wellbeing

• ensuring that the school has sufficient staffing resources to provide mental health support for pupils at the whole-school, targeted and individual levels where appropriate

 

Developing and maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing is integrated in all that we do at Abingdon House School.  There are a variety of programmes and supports in place to specifically target mental health and wellbeing.

 

Wellbeing Lessons and PATHS

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Our Wellbeing Lessons three times a week, at the start of the day. Students and staff participate together and can choose between a variety of activities including running/games club, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, gym and reading. It is important that all students and staff have a positive, and healthy start to the morning in a way that sets the groundwork for a focused and productive day.

 

PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) is a programme that the students participate in two times a week, at the start of each day.  It aims to enhance social competence and social understanding, targeting:

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• Emotional understanding

• Self-control

• Social problem solving

• Peer relations and self-esteem

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PATHS has shown to improve self-esteem, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, self-control, classroom behaviour and academic engagement, and shown to reduce negative behaviour, emotional distress and conduct problems.

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Mental Health Support

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Draw and Talk therapy are available at Abingdon House School.  Where students may be involved in additional therapies outside of school, we strongly encourage that there is a positive and collaborative relationship between the school and external therapist to ensure a consistent and holistic approach for our students, both in and out of school.  We work in very close collaboration with a large variety of external professionals.

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Wellbeing and Sensory Rooms

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There is a dedicated Sensory Room and a Wellbeing Room within the school.  Students are encouraged and supported to access these supervised areas when required, and provide students with a calm and quiet space for reflection and targeted interventions to support their mental health and wellbeing.

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