Our vision is to have a whole school approach to promote mental health and wellbeing which creates a calm, safe and supportive environment at Bolder Academy.

We do this by:

• Actively promoting healthy lifestyles including healthy and safe behaviour online
• Educating and raising awareness of mental health across the school which will reduce any stigma around mental health and normalise seeking help
• Establishing a Student Mental Health Committee comprising diverse representatives from different year groups who develop:
  • “Mental Health Champions” who can guide and advocate for positive mental health practices across the school
  • a legacy of student-led initiatives that inspire ongoing commitment to mental wellbeing beyond the school years
• Signposting students, parents and staff to support available
• Providing early intervention and support
• Ensuring all staff are trained and confident in supporting mental health and wellbeing
• Working collaboratively with parents

Our staff are vigilant in reporting any safeguarding concerns whenever they arise and any issues are dealt with by our safeguarding officers. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Ms Liz Green lgreen@bolderacademy.co.uk. Please find all direct contacts for all our safeguarding officer HERE.

We teach about mental health through assemblies, tutor time, guest speakers/workshops and PSHE. Some of the ways we support student’s mental health include:

• Stay Safe email address  
  • A way for students to report any concerns they have  
  • Regular emails sent t students from this email address with information, tips, online resources, signposting, flyers etc 
• Wellbeing page on Bolder intranet for students to access resources 
• Newsletter to parents with signposting and mental health strategies  
• Mental Health surveys completed by students
• Free breakfast every morning  
• Extra-curricular clubs 
• Safety plan for students who self-harm 
• School nurse 
• CAMHS referrals  
• Student Leadership – Mental Health Champions
• Internal Pastoral interventions 
• Internal SEND interventions 
• External interventions held at Bolder such as mentoring and counselling
• Regular signposting for external services such as counselling and Early Help offers
  • Please scroll down links for external services below

If you or your child is concerned about bullying or any issues please encourage them to speak out to any member of staff or email staysafe@bolderacademy.co.uk

Advice for parents

• Speak openly about emotions at home
• It is common for everyone to have periods of anxiety. For example, due to school exams, this does not mean they have a mental health issue 
• Look for patterns which could help identify any underlying causes e.g. specifics days or times your child is saying or showing signs of mental health issues 
• Take to the GP if the concerns are ongoing 
• Encourage your child to eat healthily and engage in forms of physical activity. This has a positive impact on mental wellbeing
• Limit use of social media. Research shows that this has a significant impact on young people’s mental health. For top tips about social society, please see Bolder Academy - Online Safety
• For further advice, please read the Mental Health Foundation booklet and visit some of the websites below.

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Parenting Services

We recognise that sometimes families need support too and we work closely with Hounslow Early Help Hub and other agencies to stay up-to-date with services that might be able to help.

For information about Hounslow Parenting Services please visit the Hounslow website for details on parenting courses or discuss with your child’s Pastoral Manager referrals which can be made to Hounslow for Family Workers or Social Care

If you would like any information, please click here to go to the Hounslow Family Services directory.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

We have created a directory of apps that our students have found useful in supporting their mental health and emotional wellbeing:

Students should call Childline on 0800 11 11 straight away if they are concerned about their mental health or think they are in trouble,

If parents or carers feel that they need some support, they can call Young Minds for free on 0808 802 5544. They are open 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Please click on the logos below to go to the websites:

Circle - A hub space and café that offers support for young people in Ealing who are at, or near crisis point with their mental health. Click HERE to read more.

            

Feeling Suicidal?

Papyrus has confidential links that you can call if you or a person you know is not coping well with life.

0800 068 4141

Supporting your physical health

Joe Wicks The Body Coach at-home PE lessons

Online Safety

At Bolder, we provide advice and support, as well as signposting a wide range of resources, to help our students stay safe online.

This includes information shared during Assemblies, Personal Development sessions and Computer Science lessons.

If something has happened online which has made you (or someone you know) feel unsafe, scared or worried, we encourage you to report it to CEOP by clicking the button below:

You can find further information on the ThinkUKnow website.

Students can also request to speak to our Safer Schools Police Officer by emailing their Pastoral Manager.