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Children’s Mental Health Week: Putting pupils first
February 3, 2021

Promoting Mental Health is not just for one day or week, it’s for all times and is the culture of Rydal Penrhos School.

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is more important than ever. The last 12 months have been extremely difficult during various lockdown periods due to COVID-19 and Rydal Penrhos staff recognise what a tough time this is for pupils and their families.

Childen’s Mental Health Week takes place from February 1-7 and this year’s theme is “Expressing Yourself”, which centres on finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity.

A recent comment piece by Gaby Hinsliff of The Guardian highlighted recent comments from children’s commissioner Anne Longfield and a letter to The Observer from a number of child health experts stating that the current mental health situation regarding children and young people is now a “national emergency”.

“But these clinical terms can’t capture how it feels to have a once sunny-tempered child who suddenly won’t even dress or wash, let alone sit through hours of Zoom lessons, facing an ever-longer waiting list for counselling.” – Gaby Hinsliff.

How Rydal Penrhos is promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Health and wellbeing have become issues of paramount importance across all areas of Rydal Penrhos over the years. It is constantly being promoted during PHSE lessons both in-school and during remote online learning, with Reverend Nick Sissons directing his attention to the topic of Children’s Mental Health Week for his virtual Chapels and Assemblies to further highlight its importance.

Daily fitness sessions for Prep and Senior pupils also promote the benefits of physical health, which has a direct impact on the way you feel and your overall mindset, studies have shown.

Well-being sessions are held at the end of each day at Rydal Penrhos following their studies – a great way to unwind and pick-up additional information on how to cope with the stresses and strains of the current climate.

The school’s new reading initiative – both for pleasure and relaxation – has been another welcome addition to the schedule, with teaching staff on hand to provide constant support and guidance in addition to listening to pupil feedback on their experiences.

The timetable has been altered for some pupil-to-pupil and teacher-to-pupil chat, which is essential with face-to-face discussion and conversation being prevented by the COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the Welsh Government.

Any pupil needing more assistance with their development is still able to participate in Additional Learning Needs sessions with Mrs Sarah Seenan, with important expressive subjects such as Art, Music, and Drama still continuing in an online format.

Children’s Mental Health Week is vital for awareness, it is at the forefront of planning at Rydal Penrhos in everything we do.

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Anyone wishing to enquire about Rydal Penrhos School can do so by calling 01492 530155, email admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or register your interest online here: https://rydalpenrhos.com/admissions/apply-now.