Taking a coordinated and evidence-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools and colleges leads to improved pupil and student readiness to learn.

Mental Health Leads sessions for 26/27 are hosted termly by EMWiE, Public Health and DSPL. The dates for primary, secondary and special schools are attached below.

Department for Education (DfE) guidance for headteachers and college principals on the WSCA 8 principles for promoting emotional health and wellbeing in schools and colleges can be found on the following link:

Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Emotional mental wellbeing in education team (EMWiE)

The EMWiE Team support all educational settings, from early years to further education to embed a WSCA to emotional and mental wellbeing. The team work together consulting and co-producing with school staff, pupils, parents, carers and the wider community. 

The EMWiE Team offer the following:

• Emotional Mental Wellbeing in Schools Mark
• Mental Health Leads (MHLs) Training/ Refresher Training
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training

Emotional mental wellbeing in education schools mark

The Emotional Mental Wellbeing in Schools Mark guides education settings through a self-review process of their mental health and emotional wellbeing offer to help identify strengths and areas for improvement. Aligned to the Department for Education’s eight principles that formulate a suggested whole school and college approach to Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, the Schools Mark has replaced the previous Healthy Young Minds in Herts Kitemark award and is free for schools to complete.

Each of the principles focus on several specific criterion. Schools will identify themselves as working in a Developing, Effective, or Advanced capacity, and use the potential improvements that can be made in each area to inform a whole school Mental Health Action Plan.

On submission of their self-review document schools will be visited by an assessor. During the two-hour visit, the assessor will explore evidence and impact which supports the setting’s own findings. This information will contribute to an overall score and culminate with a rating being awarded to the setting.

The Emotional Mental Wellbeing in Schools Mark is designed to be used as a continuous improvement development tool, meaning that it is not a case of pass or fail. After two years, settings have the option to repeat the process, reflecting on the improvement journey they have undergone, and update their whole school Mental Health Action Plan to align with new ambitions going forward.

Settings interested in starting the process should contact schoolsmh@hertfordshire.gov.uk for further information and documentation.

Mental health leads training

The EMWiE team delivers MHL's training to all education settings in Hertfordshire. The courses on offer and content is listed below: 

Introduction to Mental Health Leads Training: * For NEW MHLs/DMHLs

• Emotional wellbeing and mental health in children and young people
• The roles and responsibilities of a mental health lead in education
• Introduction to Department for Educations Whole School/College Approach to emotional and mental wellbeing and how to embed in your setting
• Staff Wellbeing
• Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services overview in Hertfordshire
• Practical examples and sharing of good practice

Mental Health Leads Refresher Training *only applicable if you have not had training in the last two years

• Emotional wellbeing and mental health in children and young people
• Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services overview in Hertfordshire
• Sharing good practice on Whole School/College Approach to emotional and mental wellbeing

Developing your Whole School/College Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing

• The Department for Education Whole School/ College Approach
• How to create or further develop your own school/college action plan
• Sharing best practice with other education settings
• Overview of Hertfordshire's Schools Mark

For more information on the courses, locations of the training and the dates available please contact: schoolsmh@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Mental health first aid training

The EMWiE team commission funded training programmes to support school-based professionals and parents/carers to improve the mental health and wellbeing of pupils aged 8-18.

 All MHFA Training is facilitated by an approved MHFA Trainer. 

Training currently on offer:

• MHFA 1 day Champion Course for school professionals

• MHFA 2 day First Aider Course for school professionals

• MHFA 1 day Champion Course for parents/carers of Hertfordshire school children

MHFA Champion Course- provides an understanding of common mental health issues and how they affect young people. The ability to spot signs of mental ill health in young people and guide them to a place of support along with knowledge and confidence and skills to support positive wellbeing.

MHFA First Aider Course- this course works on the basis that there is a role in our communities for mental health first aiders – people that feel confident to go to someone experiencing emotional distress, provide initial help and guide them towards more specialist support.

For more information on the courses, locations of the training and the dates available please contact: schoolsmh@hertfordshire.gov.uk

HertsHub is a one-stop online hub run by CYPMHS (Children & Young People Mental Health Service) and offers mental health and emotional wellbeing support and advice for all children and young people in Hertfordshire.

 It brings together county-wide early help information and resources, all in one place, for Hertfordshire’s young people, parents/carers and professionals, including signposting to self-help resources, early support options, specialist and commissioned services and contacts for help in a crisis. 

Always remember it's OK to not be OK and that talking shows' strength, not weakness.

If children and young people need some support with improving their mental health/emotional wellbeing, there are lots of self-help resources and services available in Hertfordshire all year round.

The services listed are all free. Many of the services don’t need a professional referral, so you can contact them directly.

Visit the HertsHub website for more information.

With Youth: Mental health support for children and young people in Hertfordshire

Feeling anxious, low or overwhelmed? With Youth offers free, confidential support for children and young people across Hertfordshire. Our team provides online messaging, counselling, drop-ins and group sessions to help you look after your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Need to talk? Our instant messaging service is open everyday (excluding Bank Holidays). You’re not alone – we’re here to help.

You can also call us on 0208 189 8400. 

Please note, the Instant Messaging icon will only appear on the page when we are open.

get in touch