Social, Emotional & Mental Health
At Lemington Riverside Primary School, we are deeply committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for all our pupils. We recognise that children’s social, emotional and mental health is central to their overall development and success, and we work hard to ensure every child feels supported, valued, and ready to learn.
Our approach to SEMH is inclusive, nurturing, and proactive. We provide a range of in-school interventions and external partnerships to meet the varying needs of our pupils.
What SEMH Support Looks Like in Our School
SEMH needs can present in many different ways. A child may struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, friendships, behaviour, or self-esteem. At Lemington Riverside, we take time to understand each child’s individual needs and provide appropriate support.
Our SEMH provision includes:
-
Whole-class strategies to promote wellbeing and emotional literacy
-
Small group and 1:1 interventions
-
Nurture groups and emotional check-ins
-
Access to therapeutic support from trained professionals
-
Support for families and close collaboration with external agencies
We aim to equip children with the tools they need to understand their emotions, develop resilience, and build positive relationships.
The Thrive Approach
Lemington Riverside is a Thrive school. The Thrive Approach is a whole-school strategy for supporting the social and emotional development of children. It helps staff to identify children’s needs, understand the reasons behind behaviour, and respond in a way that builds confidence and emotional strength.
Key features of the Thrive Approach:
-
Early identification of emotional needs using online tools
-
Action plans with practical, play-based strategies to support emotional development
-
Support that helps children feel safe, secure, and ready to learn
-
A consistent approach across the school to promote healthy emotional development
All staff at Lemington Riverside have been trained in the Thrive Approach. We also have two licensed Thrive Practitioners in school: Karen Wakenshaw and Loise Annal, who lead on delivering targeted support for pupils who may need additional input.
Learn more at www.thriveapproach.com
Kalmer Counselling
We work in partnership with Kalmer Counselling, a professional counselling service that specialises in supporting children and young people with their mental health. Kalmer offers therapeutic support to children who may be struggling with anxiety, trauma, bereavement, or other emotional difficulties.
Sessions are creative, child-led, and rooted in evidence-based counselling practices. This early intervention is particularly valuable for children who may be waiting for support from NHS or CYPS services.
Our in-school Kalmer Counsellor is Hollie Flynn, who provides regular sessions in a calm, safe and confidential setting.
Learn more at www.kalmer-counselling.co.uk
Zones of Regulation
To help our pupils recognise, name, and regulate their emotions, we use the Zones of Regulation across the school. This is a visual and structured framework that helps children understand that all feelings are normal – and that we can develop tools to manage them.
The Zones are divided into four colours:
-
Blue Zone – low states like sadness or tiredness
-
Green Zone – a calm, focused state ideal for learning
-
Yellow Zone – heightened emotions like excitement or frustration
-
Red Zone – extreme emotions like anger or panic
Through regular class-based activities and 1:1 support, children learn to identify their ‘zone’, communicate their feelings, and use personalised strategies to return to a calm, regulated state.
Learn more at www.zonesofregulation.com
Newcastle City Council SEMH Team
We work closely with the Newcastle City Council SEMH Team to ensure our children receive high-quality, tailored support when they need it. The team offer:
-
Specialist advice and training for staff
-
Guidance and support for parents and carers
-
One-to-one interventions for children with significant SEMH needs
This partnership allows us to access expert support and ensure our practice is always informed by the latest guidance and approaches in mental health and wellbeing.
Senior Mental Health Lead
Our Senior Mental Health Lead is Craig Heeley (Headteacher), who oversees our whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health. He works closely with staff, families, and external professionals to ensure our SEMH provision is robust, responsive, and child-centred.
Working Together
At Lemington Riverside, we believe that emotional wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility. By creating a safe and nurturing environment and working in partnership with families, we help our children to thrive – socially, emotionally, and academically.