Park Road Community Primary School was delighted to recently be awarded the Optimus Wellbeing Award for Schools in recognition of developing their strategy for mental health and wellbeing, including emotional health.
This award is given to recognise that mental health and wellbeing sit at the heart of school life, focusing on the long-term culture of the whole school. The Wellbeing Award for Schools uses an evidence-based framework to help drive change.
The School’s aims, as part of their strategy, are to be responsive and flexible to everybody’s needs; where everyone feels safe and are able to express how they feel without feeling judged and that everyone acknowledges that a ‘voice’ comes in many forms, not just spoken and everyone seeks to understand each other.
Park Road could demonstrate that they acknowledge that mental health and wellbeing is a shared experience, citing ‘Sometimes we are the ones who need shelter and at other times we are the ones holding the umbrella.’ Their strategy focuses on preventing the decline of positive mental health and supporting the mental health of everyone within their school community.
Alex Roper, Award Verifier said "Staff, parents, governors, and pupils at Park Road Community Primary School are clearly proud of their school and feel well supported in their wellbeing".
Nicky Parkinson, Headteacher added “We are very proud that Park Road Community Primary School has been recognised in their dedication to promote mental health and wellbeing for all in our community. We have implemented many approaches to protect the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff, such as working with Play Therapists to identify those who need emotional support and a trained counsellor available in school. Staff have also been trained to be able to offer one to one support”.
We are proud of the hard work carried out by Park Road in achieving this award and will continue to support and promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all.
