Wellbeing

Children’s Wellbeing and Mental Health

At HETTY, children’s happiness, emotional security and mental health are at the heart of everything we do. We provide a warm, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is valued, listened to and supported to develop confidence, resilience and a positive sense of themselves.

Our Key-Person Approach

Every child is allocated a key person who takes time to build a secure and trusting relationship with them and their family. The key person:

• Helps the child settle and feel safe and secure.
• Gets to know their personality, interests, routines and individual needs.
• Provides reassurance, comfort and encouragement.
• Supports the child to recognise and express their emotions.
• Carefully monitors their wellbeing, development and progress.
• Maintains regular communication with parents and carers.

Although each child has a named key person, all members of the HETTY team work together to ensure every child feels known, cared for and supported.

The Leuven Scales

Members of our staff are trained to use the Leuven Scales of Wellbeing and Involvement. Through sensitive observation, we consider how comfortable, confident and emotionally secure each child appears, as well as how deeply involved they are in their play and learning.

These observations help us notice when a child may need additional reassurance, a change to their environment or further support. We can then adapt our approach, activities and provision to meet their individual needs. The Leuven Scales support our professional observations but are not used as a medical or diagnostic assessment.

How We Support Children’s Wellbeing

We support children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health by:

• Building warm, consistent and nurturing relationships.
• Creating a welcoming environment where children feel safe and included.
• Following children’s interests and giving them choices in their play.
• Encouraging independence, confidence and a sense of achievement.
• Helping children name, understand and manage their emotions.
• Providing calm, quiet spaces when children need time to rest or regulate.
• Using visual timetables, familiar routines and advance warnings to reduce anxiety.
• Supporting friendships, turn-taking, kindness and conflict resolution.
• Providing opportunities for physical activity, outdoor play and fresh air.
• Using stories, songs, small-group activities and conversations to explore feelings.
• Recognising that behaviour is a form of communication and responding with curiosity and compassion.
• Working closely with families to provide consistent support between home and HETTY.

Our outdoor area is available throughout the day, except during extreme weather. Children benefit from the freedom to move between indoor and outdoor play, helping them to be active, explore nature and regulate their emotions.

Individual Support

We understand that every child experiences and communicates emotions differently. Some children may need additional support with separation, friendships, changes in routine, communication, sensory needs or managing strong feelings.

When concerns arise, we work sensitively with parents and carers to agree appropriate strategies. With parental involvement, we may also seek advice from our SENCo or other relevant professionals. Any concerns about a child’s safety or welfare are managed in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.

You may also find these trusted resources helpful:

• NHS – Advice for parents – information about children’s mental health and where to seek help.
• NHS – Talking to your child about feelings – practical advice for encouraging children to express their feelings.
• Every Mind Matters – Children’s mental health – simple ways parents can support positive emotional wellbeing.
• YoungMinds – Support for parents and carers – advice and support for families concerned about a child’s mental health or behaviour.
• Anna Freud – Resources for families – guidance to help families support children’s emotional wellbeing.
• Starting Well 0–19 Service – local health and wellbeing support for children and families across Cheshire West and Chester.
• Cheshire West Early Help and Prevention Service – practical support for children, parents and families experiencing additional difficulties.

At HETTY, we want every child to feel:

Safe, secure, valued, understood and ready to flourish.