We are a well-being school
Well-being for everyone in the All Saints family is a key part of our ethos. The Head Teacher is a trained 'well-being champion' and is confident that our school will receive a nationally recognised accreditation in well-being by the end of the academic year.
The children are reminded continuously that mental well-being is just as important as physical well-being is. To promote well- being throughout the school we have embedded the following strategies into our daily timetable and school lives.
Worry boxes
All classrooms have one of these and if children wish to speak to their teacher confidentially they pop a written note in this box. Teachers check these boxes daily.
The Zen Den
The children wanted an outside space where they could opt out of the physical activities that take place at breaktimes. They designed it themselves and ordered cushions, flowers, yoga mats and wind chimes to go in it - this space is very popular with the staff too!
Brain Breathing sessions
All classes hold these sessions every day straight after lunchtime play. They consist of meditative music, visualisation stories, chair yoga routines and self or paired massage.
Individual children are also identified for social skills work, lego therapy, drawing therapy, play therapy and music therapy work where needed.
The school has links with external services that provide additional therapy work and we have our own student social worker and mental health practitioner who help with therapy work on site too
Staff are also considered when it comes to practising good well-being in school. Key tasks tasks are built into directed meeting time, planning and marking procedures have been significantly reduced, reporting to parent systems have become more streamlined and staff all have access to a confidential counselling service that is free - if the need should arise.
Parents are part of the school well-being programme too. The pupil support team invite them in for coffee mornings to mingle and share concerns. Triple P parenting classes are provided to assist them caring for their child's well-being at home. Individual parents are also identified for further support from a range of external services such as Family Solutions.
It is hoped that by providing such well-being strategies that we all learn how to achieve good mental health and that we all develop our resilience and ways of coping with the inevitable challenges that living in 21st century modern Britain will bring.