A DOWNEND infant school has been presented with an award for the work it does to support pupils’ mental health and well-being.
Christ Church Infant School was assessed by South Gloucestershire Council’s health promotion in education settings quality assurance panel, which praised its “sustained, whole-school commitment to enhancing mental health and well-being, underpinned by a compassionate and caring ethos”.
Work to hear children’s voices, engage with parents and support staff was all praised.
The panel told the school: “It is abundantly clear that you don’t just write on pieces of paper or webpages words that imply you care about how your pupils, staff, and wider community think and feel – you ‘live it’, bring it to life, in tangible, evidenced, and independently verified ways that enhance staff and pupil outcomes, feelings, and experiences.”
The council presented the school with its Mental Health and Wellbeing Award in October.
Head teacher Anna Martin said: “We are immensely proud to be recognised for the work we do at CCI in supporting our whole school community.
“Our commitment extends beyond the classroom — we not only nurture and guide our pupils but also provide valuable support to their families.
“We take great care of our dedicated staff team, and as a result, our school family is one that feels loved, supported, and happy.
“As our next step, we are excited to host a coffee morning for families from both our school and our partner junior school. We are delighted to welcome guest speakers from NHS Talking Therapies, Off the Record, and Love Squared — three local organisations that play a vital role in supporting the mental health of children and adults.
“We are also placing a strong emphasis on helping our children understand how to look after their own mental health and well-being, ensuring that it remains at the heart of everything we do.”