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POLICY STATEMENT:KIDSMATTER PRIMARY

PREPARED BY:{Insert Name}

APPROVED BY COUNCIL: {Insert Date}

REVIEWED:{Insert Date}

AIM:

{Insert School}, in accordance with the KidsMatter Primary Guidelines aims to:

  • Improve the mental health and wellbeing of our students
  • Reduce mental health problems amongst our students
  • Support students experiencing mental health problems

DEFINITION:

KidsMatter Primary is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and is proven to make a positive difference to the lives of Australian children. KidsMatter Primary provides the proven methods, tools and support to help schools work with parents and carers, health services and the wider community, to nurture happy, balanced kids.

RELATED LINKS:

GUIDELINES:

{Insert School} has created a KidsMatter Action Team that is composed of teaching staff, Education Support Staff and parent representative. The Action Team coordinates the implementation of the KidsMatter components and supports the whole school approach. This includes:

  • providing information about the KidsMatter Primary initiative to school staff, students and families
  • recognising what the school already does to support children’s mental health and determining areas for improvement
  • developing a school action plan for delivery and implementation of each KidsMatter Primary Component.
  • Annually evaluating the success of the implementation of Action Plan and modifying plans where needed.

IMPLEMENTATION:

{Insert School} believes that with the implementation of KidsMatter Primary we can make a difference to our student’s mental health and wellbeing by addressing four key components:

  1. A Positive School Community
  • The KidsMatter Action Team, together with staff and the wider community will aim at building positive relationships at school that will in turn enable families to feel that our school is a place where they feel welcome, where they will be listened to and where they can contribute.
  • The KidsMatter Action Team, together with staff and the wider community will build a positive school community where by children will feel safe and where their needs will be met.
  1. Social and Emotional Learning for Students:
  • The KidsMatter Action Team, together with staff and the wider community will teach children social and emotional skills through our schools curriculum to give our students the tools needed to cope with emotions, solve problems and assist them to learn more effectively.
  1. Parenting Support and Education:
  • The KidsMatter Action Team, together with staff and the wider community believe that in order for us to promote children’s mental health and wellbeing, it makes sense that our families work closely with our school. We will support parents and carers in their central role of caring for their children by making useful information and resources about parenting available and by letting parents/carers know where they can get further assistance.
  • Parents are invited to weekly parent groups to assist with parenting education and information dissemination about local services and agencies.
  1. Early Intervention for Students who are Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties:
  • The KidsMatter Action Team, together with staff and the wider community will learn to respond more effectively to our children’s mental health difficulties by identifying when problems may need follow-up, providing information for families and developing links with mental health services in the local community.
  • Teachers will continue to observe student behavior, emotions, thoughts, learning and social relationships. Where they believe students are experiencing mental difficulties they will consult our Student Wellbeing Officer in order to provide appropriate intervention strategies.
  • Our “Meet and Greet” interviews will give parents the opportunity to advise staff on any risk factors that may affect student health and wellbeing.

EVALUATION:

This policy will be reviewed at the end of each KidsMatter Component.

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