The South East Improvement Collaborative Award aims to reward settings with a safe, happy and accepting learning environment by equipping children and young people with the knowledge to build resilience and understanding of mental wellbeing and what influences it within their education.
In 2020, a small group of young people from across SEIC worked together with SEIC Quality Improvement Officers and Young Scot to co-design an Award that all schools in the SEIC could apply for. This Award recognises the work of children, young people and their schools/settings in improving resilience and understanding around mental and emotional health and wellbeing in their own setting. It supports the young people’s feelings that mental and emotional health and wellbeing should be central to everything that goes on in and around the school. To see further details of Co-Design work please see the embedded report by clicking on the image below.
There are 3 areas of work within the Award that schools can apply for outlining a piece of work they have engaged in that meets one or more of the areas set out below.
Culture and Atmosphere
This section will demonstrate and focus on a change in mind-set and approach to mental health and wellbeing. The activities should be centred on creating an environment of respect and equality, with space for open conversations around mental health and wellbeing.
Education and Curriculum
This section looks to see projects that are informing both young people and teachers around the variety of mental health and wellbeing issues, potentially making use of PSE lessons and creating a baseline of knowledge for all those involved. It is vital that schools are creative in their approaches to this section, demonstrating the care for individual needs and issues, not a blanket approach that may not suit everyone.
Support Networks and Communities
The Award recognises that young people’s lives outside of school should also be considered, with the influence from and with friends, family and communities. This could also provide a link to support from specialised groups, creating support networks for young people and learning from the experiences of others.
Success Criteria for Achieving the SEIC Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Award
In delivering the Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Improvement:
- Where possible activity should look to involve parents/carers in some way
- Equality and diversity must take a key focus through activity and delivery
- Activity should encourage conversations about adversity and resilience and how it effects young people’s mental health
Application Process and Awarding Panel
Applications will be accepted for the Award throughout the year. A panel of Young Ambassadors from across SEIC will come together with link QIOs to look at the application within a month of their submission. The school will be given feedback as to whether their project is successful or guidance as to further information/actions required to achieve the award.
On achieving the Award, the school will be presented with a certificate and logo to use on school communications.
An annual celebration of achievement will be hosted to share the projects that schools achieving the award have engaged in to promote mental and emotional health and wellbeing across their school.
If your school has been involved in any piece of work that you feel fit the criteria, please submit the application form below to:
Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Award Overview Paperwork
Subject: Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Award
