Mental Health and Wellbeing
Here at The Grove Junior School we value and promote the importance of maintaining good mental health and wellbeing. Children who are mentally and emotionally regulated are better equipped to access classroom learning and in turn reach their full potential.
Accessing Support at The Grove
If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, social or emotional wellbeing, we encourage you to speak with your class teacher who can request Miss Vettese to contact you. We will take a collaborative, child centred approach to all concerns with a view to assessing need and providing the best and most appropriate support to the child and family.
What we offer:
- Miss Vettese, who works solely as our mental health and wellbeing lead 4 days a week
- The Sanctuary, our multi-sensory room, which provides a safe space for our children to talk, be supported and regulate their emotions freely
- Pastoral PE intervention, an intervention that seeks to enhance children’s physical and mental wellbeing in a variety of ways
- Support from external agencies, when it is needed
Miss Vettese
Building strong, trusting relationships with our children is essential to supporting their wellbeing. At The Grove, Miss Vettese leads our mental health and wellbeing provision four days a week. She works with children individually and in small groups, offering dedicated time during the school day to focus on emotional support. She also provides pastoral care to families who may be facing challenges at home.
Miss Vettese is trained in drawing and talking therapy as well as sand therapy, both of which are gentle and structured approaches that support children who have experienced trauma. In addition to being a qualified Mental Health First Aider, she has completed a wide range of specialist training in areas such as anxiety, emotionally based school non-attendance, and supporting neurodiverse children. She is also a certified Senior Mental Health Lead through the Department for Education, helping to embed mental health and wellbeing into the core of our school’s culture and values.
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is a calm and welcoming space in our school where children can support their mental health and wellbeing. Created with funding from our local councillor and Tesco Schools Funding Programme, it offers a multi-sensory environment for children to talk, take part in therapies, or simply take a break when they feel overwhelmed. By helping them regulate their emotions, The Sanctuary enables children to return to class feeling calm, supported, and ready to learn.
Pastoral PE
At The Grove, we understand the strong connection between physical activity and mental wellbeing, which is why we offer Pastoral PE. A therapeutic programme designed to support children’s emotional, social, and physical development. It helps children build confidence, improve communication, develop teamwork and problem-solving skills, and feel a sense of achievement and belonging. This intervention is not just for children experiencing difficulties, but also for those who may benefit from strengthening specific skills or enriching their overall wellbeing.
Throughout the year, different children are selected to take part in six weekly 30-minute sessions, and parents are contacted for consent. Progress is monitored using the CORS rating scale and staff observations, and children are encouraged to apply their new skills in everyday school life. If further support is needed, children may be invited to take part in Pastoral PE again in the future.
For the CORS main web link click here.
External Support
Miss Vettese works closely with a range of external agencies that offer additional or specialised support for children and families. These include services such as Harpenden Plus Partnership, the school nursing service, Step2, and Nessie. Many of these organisations also provide resources directly to parents and carers, with options for self-referral and access to free workshops, advice, and guidance.
Links to external agencies:
NHS Child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS)
Please also click here if you want to access the Hertfordshire Mental Health Service Directory
CYPMHS-Service-Directory-September-24