Brunel is an Ofsted graded 'GOOD' school with 'OUTSTANDING' Personal Development and Early Years Provision - click here to see the full report

Head's Blog

Mental Health Awareness Week

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, your KS2 child will be coming home from school with a copy of My Brilliant Place To Be Me. This is a journal for 8-11 year olds, designed to help them to explore and nurture their well-being. It is full of activities and information, created to encourage the children to:

Become more aware of their emotions, and recognise and name their feelings
Understand that all feelings are OK
Become better able to manage uncomfortable feelings with simple self-soothing strategies and by seeking help
Identify the people in their lives who can help them if needed

Headstart Kernow, creators of the resource, are keen for feedback. Please complete the feedback survey at:- https://www.headstartkernow.org.uk/brilliant-me/brilliant-me-feedback
DfE Guidance says that by the end of primary school pupils should know:

That mental wellbeing is a normal part of daily life, in the same way as physical health.
That there is a normal range of emotions (e.g. happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, nervousness) and scale of emotions that all humans experience in relation to different experiences and situations.
How to recognise and talk about their emotions, including having a varied vocabulary of words to use when talking about their own and others’ feelings.
How to judge whether what they are feeling and how they are behaving is appropriate and proportionate.
The benefits of physical exercise, time outdoors, community participation, voluntary and service-based activity on mental wellbeing and happiness.
Simple self-care techniques, including the importance of rest, time spent with friends and family and the benefits of hobbies and interests.
Isolation and loneliness can affect children and that it is very important for children to discuss their feelings with an adult and seek support.
That bullying (including cyberbullying) has a negative and often lasting impact on mental wellbeing./ where and how to seek support (including recognising the triggers for seeking support), including whom in school they should speak to if they are worried about their own or someone else’s mental wellbeing or ability to control their emotions (including issues arising online).
That it is common for people to experience mental ill health. For many people who do, the problems can be resolved if the right support is made available, especially if accessed early enough.

For more information visit Brilliant Me : Headstart Kernow

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Welcome

Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy is a larger than average primary school in Cornwall with approximately 230 pupils on roll. Brunel provides the full range of pre-school care, nursery and primary education, and before and after school Kids Club, all on one secure site. Most of the children who join us at two, three or four remain at Brunel until they leave for secondary school at age eleven.

Brunel is part of the Bridge Schools Trust. The Trust is committed to delivering high quality educational provision across all its 14 academies whilst encouraging each Academy to reflect the individual needs of its own local community. We welcome the additional support and learning opportunities that being part of a Trust provides.

We are situated on a quiet site, away from busy roads yet conveniently close to Saltash Health Centre, Library and Leisure Centre and adjacent to Saltash Children’s Centre. We have an extensive site and are very fortunate in being able to work with children in such varied and attractive surroundings. Both the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 sites have large playgrounds surrounded by trees and shrubs, and the school has its own vegetable plots, chickens, fixed play equipment, separate Early Years Foundation Stage play areas and a large playing field.

Our Cornish school motto is ‘Degemer An Jydh’ which approximately translates to ‘Seize the Day’. We encourage pupils to make the most of all the varied opportunities that attending our school provides and not waste a minute of their learning experiences.

Our pupils are happy and tell us that they enjoy their time at Brunel, with fun learning and teachers and staff who know them and who are always there to help. Our parent and family communications tell us that they are happy with the school, that they feel their children are safe and that the school cares about them. We strongly believe in the whole child and preparing our pupils to be active citizens for life in a modern, democratic society. Saltash is rich and vibrant town and we are proud of our strong community links.

Safeguarding and welfare is intrinsic and essential in all that we do at Brunel Primary. Children are taught the values of determination, responsibility, curiosity, excellence, enthusiasm and creativity. We promote open and honest communication with parents, carers and the professionals who support us.

If you require further information or a paper copy of information on our website then please contact the school office.

Mrs Suzanne Cooper
Headteacher