Mental Health
At Hollingwood we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of pupils, families and staff. We strongly believe that positive mental well-being is essential for children and young people to flourish and become the independent, resilient learners that we promote.
We take a proactive, whole-school approach to mental health, that combines curriculum learning, prevention, early intervention and access to specialist support, ensuring that children are supported to manage change, cope with stress and access help when needed. Children are explicitly taught how to recognise their emotions, understand when they may need support, and know how and where to seek help for themselves or others. This helps to build confidence, reduce stigma and ensure that pupils feel safe to speak out.
Mental health support at Hollingwood is embedded through a whole-school approach
Our PSHE curriculum and social and emotional learning are woven through other areas of the curriculum to help children understand emotions, build resilience, understand the factors that influence their mental health and wellbeing and develop healthy relationships from an early age.
Our strategy for promoting wellbeing and supporting pupils who may have poor mental health is as follows:
- We have achieved the “Healthy Minds Chartermark”. This shows our school’s commitment to support the wellbeing and mental health of everyone working in Education.
- The school works closely with the Educational Psychology team on a whole school Mental Health and Wellbeing action plan to further develop and support in school.
- Mrs Walton, our Assistant Head , is a qualified Senior Mental Health Lead in school.
- We work closely with the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) who will be working in school 1 day a week to support children 1:1, in groups and to work with parents.
- Assemblies and whole class sessions delivered by the MHST to address any concerns raised by staff and children.
- Coffee mornings with the MHST for parents as an oppurtunity to raise issues and seek support.
- regular Early Help coffee mornings so that parents can seek further external support for their children if they require,
- Each class has pastoral support from their class teacher, teaching assistant and learning mentors.
- Each class has a “worry box” which enables them to self-refer themselves so they can confidentially ask for support from key adults in school.
- Forest Schools sessions with our trained Forest School Practitioner.
- Weekly ‘My Happy Mind’ sessions in the Early Years and KS1.
- Story project through school.
- Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing sessions taught through our PSHE curriculum.
- Whole School collaborative and fundraising events.
Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
On a Wednesday, NHS professionals from the Bradford Mental Health Support Team are based in school to support children with social and emotional needs and work to develop strategies to manage their wellbeing. Parents and class teachers are supported to work together to provide a consistent approach both at home and at school.
To find out more please click on the link below.
In June 2025 we were proud to have achieved the Bradford Healthy Minds Silver Award. The report celebrated the work that school has done to support mental wellbeing.
School was praised for the following:
- A clear whole-school approach to mental health and well-being which is outstanding
- Curriculum, Teaching and Learning is especially strong within this school
- Pupil Voice is also particularly strong
- Staff wellbeing is high priority
Further guidance and support can be found at Bradford Families & Young Persons Information, Mind, Young Minds and at My Happy Mind.