MindMate
Introduction
As a school, we are committed to giving our children the best possible start in life by nurturing their social, emotional and mental health. There are many, many ways in which we do this at Morley Victoria but another vitally important part of our teaching and learning is the MindMate curriculum - you can find the Scheme of Work in the blue boxes below.
MindMate Leeds is a collaboration between young people and professionals in the city, commissioned by NHS Leeds CCG and Future in Mind, Leeds. The organisation was set up to help and support young people (and their families) who are experiencing emotional or mental health issues. You can visit their website for more information should you need it: www.mindmate.org.uk
Because of the way in which the scheme of work was written by a team of experienced professionals, we are confident that we are utilising well proven methods to support our children in developing good relationships, becoming comfortable with their feelings and strategies to cope well with life changes and the more challenging aspects of life that can impact on mental health.
How the lessons are planned
There are six spiralised core lessons per year group; one from each of the following themes:
- Feeling good and being me
- Family and friends
- Being the same and being different
- Life changes and transitions
- Strong emotions
- Solving problems/Making things better
Age appropriate content includes both broad topics, such as healthy relationships, and more mental health specific topics, such as low mood and depression. In addition, emotional literacy skills (based on the work of the Southampton Psychology Service) are incorporated into all the lesson outcomes, to ensure that the learning is personalised and embedded. This means that pupils practice a range of skills, including talking about their feelings rather than simply developing a theoretical understanding of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH).
The use of associate writers, with their range of experience and expertise, ensures a high level of creativity and flexibility in the way topics are taught. Once written, the lessons were quality assured and standardised to ensure they were evidence based and functional. In June 2020, the lessons were updated in line with the September 2020 statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education.
This year, as well as delivering the MindMate lessons across Key Stage 1 & 2, as a whole school we are working towards the 'MindMate Champions' accreditation in a hope to be recognised for the supportive and inclusive school culture and environment that underpins our curriculum.
In the blue box below, you will find a link to some games that MindMate have developed - here you can find games that cover anything from dealing with stress to starting conversations...have a go!
