At English Martyrs, we want every child to feel safe, happy and that they truly belong. We know our children well. We will always greet your child with a smile, notice when something does not seem quite right and make sure they know there is a safe adult they can talk to.

For some children, the beginning or end of the school day can be difficult. Our Happy Hello and Fond Farewell groups give them a calm welcome or a supported transition home. Sometimes a familiar face and a little time to settle can make all the difference.

We are also a Thought-Full school, which means we work with the West Sussex Mental Health Support Team to support mental health and emotional wellbeing across the school. We can make individual referrals for children who may benefit from short-term, targeted support with difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, sleep or emotional regulation. These referrals are carefully considered with families and are based on each child’s individual needs.  

Last year, we were the first school to take part in Thought-Full’s pilot friendship group. The sessions were led by a member of the Thought-Full team, while one of our own teaching assistants joined in throughout. This means that we now have the knowledge and skills within school to run this support ourselves, helping children to develop confidence, manage friendship difficulties and build positive relationships.

We are also fortunate to have a qualified Play Therapist working in school every Tuesday. This is targeted support for children with the greatest level of need. Referrals are made through our SENCo and places are carefully prioritised. Some children may benefit from play therapy for a short block of several weeks, while others may need support across the school year.

Looking after children’s wellbeing is not just about specific groups or specialist support. Most of the time, it is about knowing our children well, noticing when they are not quite themselves and making sure they have someone to talk to. We know that children learn better when they feel safe, settled and happy in school, and we work hard to make sure that they do.