Social, emotional, and mental health difficulties refer to a range of challenges that affect children’s emotional well-being, social interactions, and overall mental health.

These difficulties can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, depression, behavioural problems, difficulty regulating emotions, social withdrawal, low self-esteem, and academic underachievement.

Children facing these challenges may struggle with forming and maintaining relationships, managing stress, and coping with life’s ups and downs. It is important to recognise and address these difficulties early on, as they can significantly impact a child’s development, academic performance, and overall quality of life.

Providing appropriate support, such as counselling, therapy, and creating a nurturing environment, can help children navigate and overcome these challenges, promoting their well-being and resilience.

At Meare Village Primary School, we have a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). Our ELSA is Heidi Kingdon. Mrs Kingdon works with children that may be struggling with SEMH difficulties. She is also able to make referrals to the Somerset Mental Health Support Team (MHST) and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for more complex SEMH needs.

If you would like to find out more about this, contact Heidi Kingdon (ELSA), or Abi Isherwood (Acting SENDCo), via the school office.