Wellbeing Introduction
Welcome to the MFA Wellbeing Page.
Click Here to view our Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Policy
Prioritising Wellbeing: Nurturing Ourselves at Mossbourne Fobbing Academy.
At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, we believe that looking after your wellbeing is just as important as looking after your physical health. Everyone faces challenges at times, and it is important that young people feel supported, informed and equipped with strategies to help themselves and others.
This wellbeing area has been created to provide useful information, practical advice, activities and links to support positive mental health and self-care.
At MFA, we want every student to feel safe, supported and able to thrive. Our wellbeing support includes a dedicated wellbeing room for mentoring and counselling, access to quiet outdoor spaces including our nature reserve, and a wellbeing-focused tutor programme designed to help students build confidence, resilience and healthy habits for life.
We are proud to provide the following strategies in school.
- A comprehensive Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy
- Mindfulness groups for students
- Dedicated wellbeing awareness days and themed weeks
- PSHE Drop Down Days focused on health and wellbeing
- A range of self-help and wellbeing resources in the Library
- Mental health information evenings for parents
- Fortnightly wellbeing check-ins for looked after children
- Access to support from pastoral, safeguarding and wellbeing staff
Supporting Friends
When a student is going through a difficult time with their mental health, friends often want to help but may not know what to do. At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, we recognise the importance of supporting both the student and their peers.
Where appropriate, we provide guidance and support to help friends understand how they can offer support safely and sensitively. This may include helping them to understand:
- How to support a friend who may be struggling
- Things to avoid saying or doing that may unintentionally cause upset
- Warning signs that a trusted adult may need to step in
- Where they can access support for themselves
- Safe and reliable sources of information
- Healthy ways to manage any worries or emotions they may be feeling
We work closely with students and families to ensure support is appropriate, sensitive and centred around the wellbeing of everyone involved.
Universal Support for All Students
At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, every student has access to universal wellbeing and pastoral support as part of everyday school life. This includes:
- A Form Tutor who acts as the first point of contact for support and guidance
- 100 minutes each week with their Form Tutor, including daily morning tutor time and dedicated PSHE drop-down days
- Support from the pastoral team, including Heads of Year, Heads of School and Behaviour Mentors
- Access to the safeguarding email address for students to raise concerns or request support
- A dedicated Safeguarding and Mental Health section on the school website
- Safeguarding posters around the school signposting support
- High-quality in-class pastoral support, with all staff playing a role in supporting student wellbeing
- A whole-school nurturing approach that promotes emotional wellbeing, resilience and personal development
- A school culture where students feel safe, valued, included and able to talk openly about concerns without stigma
- Assemblies and wellbeing education that raise awareness and encourage positive mental health conversations
- A clear and consistent behaviour policy that creates a calm, safe and predictable environment
- A reward system that celebrates positive behaviour, effort, personal growth and academic success
This universal support ensures that every student feels known, supported and able to thrive.
Additional Support
Some students may need extra support at different points in their school journey. This may include:
- Welfare Cards for students with medical or mental health needs. These allow students to discreetly alert staff if they need immediate support, with the on-call team responding quickly and sensitively.
Specialist Support
For students requiring more targeted support, we may put in place:
- Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students with multiple wellbeing needs or support from different services
- Individual Health Plans (IHPs) for students with medical or mental health conditions
- Pastoral Support Plans (PSPs) for students requiring intensive pastoral intervention
External Agency Support
Where specialist external support is needed, we may work with other professionals and agencies, including:
- Educational Psychologists for specialist assessment and advice
- CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) for students requiring more specialist mental health support
- Early Help Services to provide early intervention and family support
- Child Protection Services where there are safeguarding concerns
- Behaviour Support Services for students requiring specialist behavioural intervention
- Local substance misuse support services where appropriate
Wellbeing Champions
Alongside our pastoral and safeguarding teams, a number of staff are trained in Mental Health First Aid and act as our Wellbeing Champions. Students can identify these staff members as trusted adults who are available to listen, offer support and help signpost the right next steps.
Rest assured, these champions stand ready to listen, support, and guide. For further insights into the invaluable realm of Mental Health First Aid, we invite you to delve deeper by visiting: https://mhfaengland.org/.
If you feel you require more immediate assistance, please click here to see a list of 24/7 crisis lines for mental health trusts in Thurrock, as well as other sources of support.
