20 STAR SPOTLIGHT
STAR PROMOTES WELLBEING MEASURES TO PROTECT PUPILS’ MENTAL HEALTH The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the wellbeing of thousands of young people across the country. From the loneliness and boredom of lockdown to the devastation of coping with the death of a loved one, this past year has wrought an unprecedented level of mental health challenges for our children.
A recent report found that one in eight children now has a diagnosable mental health disorder, which equates to around three children in every classroom. According to experts, these figures could be set to rise as a result of the stress, uncertainty and loss of support networks brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. In response to these challenges, Star Academies is working with pupils to help them develop the necessary skills to be the ‘resilient Covid generation’ who can tackle different forms of adversity that may come their way. A raft of additional, specially designed measures has been developed to help support pupils through these difficult times. Ensuring that pupils remain safe, happy and well, remains Star’s biggest priority and is the golden thread that runs throughout the trust’s work.
and community issues. For example, pupils in some schools have experienced a high number of Covid-19 bereavements. To support those pupils, more staff have been trained in bereavement counselling so that they can provide emotional support to pupils who have lost someone close to them. In another example, pupils from some schools may be at greater risk from county lines gangs and, in those contexts, pupils are educated on how to stay safe from harm.
ENSURING THAT PUPILS REMAIN SAFE, HAPPY AND WELL, REMAINS STAR’S BIGGEST PRIORITY AND IS THE GOLDEN THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE TRUST’S WORK.
Now more than ever, Star’s team of wellbeing experts is reflecting on its provision and practice to ensure it is fully equipped to support pupils in the best way possible. Throughout this turbulent period, Star Academies has dedicated its efforts to ensuring pupils have the resilience to manage their mental and emotional health so that they are able thrive academically, both now and in the future. An important part of the trust’s work is to develop a greater understanding of the difficulties pupils are facing and the impact on their wellbeing. Star schools have mechanisms in place to help pupils feel confident about sharing information about their feelings and concerns. This informs and drives their approach to improving pupil wellbeing. Pupil feedback is also helping schools to be proactive in addressing whole-school
STARLIGHT
At the beginning of the year, Star Academies further enhanced its wellbeing measures by arranging for school staff to participate in Mental Health First Aid training accredited by MHFA England. The course enabled staff to learn how to spot the early signs of possible mental health issues and to feel confident in how to provide initial support to a person in need of help. The training also offered guidance on promoting positive attitudes towards mental health around schools and to helping pupils understand the issues involved.
Each Star school now has a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders who have the skills and expertise to support struggling pupils and staff when the need arises. In total, 135 Mental Health First Aiders have been trained across Star schools to support pupils with anxiety or depression and 100 pastoral staff have been trained to provide bereavement support for the 20% of Star pupils who have lost members of their immediate or extended family during the pandemic. In some schools, Star has established In-School Inclusion Centres which, alongside lessons, offer therapeutic support for pupils who are finding school difficult. The centres provide
