Welcome to Wellbeing

Welcome to the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing section of our website. My name is Sue Brewster, and I am the Wellbeing Lead and School Counsellor at Ribston Hall.  I oversee the day to day running of the Wellbeing Hub and along with an amazing group of staff we look after students who need some extra support during their school day.

Firstly, I would like to introduce the Wellbeing Team and explain the purpose of the Wellbeing Hub within the school. 

The hub consists of a large central space that includes my office, as well as the offices of Key Stage Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Hayley Shurmer, Assistant SENCo Mrs. Katie Howells, Teaching Assistant Rachel Sanders, and Miss Edwina Danks, our 6th Form Pastoral Assistant, who provides support to our older students.

We have a dedicated medical room, a quiet space for sitting with more comfortable seating and some workspaces for students who need extra support. We also have a dedicated meeting room the ‘Wellbeing Pod’ that can be utilised for meetings with external agencies such as counsellors and social workers etc.

The Wellbeing Hub and the staff within it support the work of the Heads of Year who look after our students. All students are encouraged to visit the Wellbeing Hub whenever they have concerns or are struggling during their school day.  There is always someone on hand to give advice or guidance or offer some emotional support.  Staff in Wellbeing can arrange, in conjunction with the Head of Year, further support that is more formalised if needed. 

All schools should offer a learning environment that promotes and enhances positive mental health and emotional wellbeing with a consistent approach. National guidance supports the view that:

"A healthy school ensures that when pupils are unhappy, anxious, disturbed or depressed there are open channels for them to seek or be offered support, without stigma and with appropriate confidentiality." "A healthy school actively seeks to promote positive emotional health and wellbeing and helps pupils understand their feelings, and build their confidence and emotional resilience and therefore their capacity to learn."

At Ribston Hall, we are committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing with all students, their families and members of staff and governors through a whole school coherent strategy.  Mental Health and psychological wellbeing are fundamental to broader health and wellbeing. Our emotional wellbeing is just as important as our physical health.

The information contained within these pages should enable all members of the school community greater access to a wide range of helpful and supportive apps and websites in addition to a directory of information and available services.

To view our Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Policy, please see our Policies webpage.

Mrs Sue Brewster

Wellbeing Lead & School Counsellor