Wellbeing for all

I was delighted to see the following on our school development plan: trial and develop techniques to support staff and student wellbeing. I have worked alongside our Deputy Headteacher to ensure a new vocabulary around wellbeing has been used in school.

Following the ideas launched by #teacher5aday, we built 2 staff wellbeing weeks into our school calendar. This meant no meetings but a chance for all staff to #connect #collaborate #learn #notice and exercise. We offered a variety of activities ranging from an introduction to mindfulness to an afternoon of Italian cookery to yoga for beginners and create your own ceramics. We also introduced the Good Karma club where staff secretly buddy up with someone and pay good karma forwards. Candles, notes and #teacher5aday bags have added to the sense of wellbeing around the school.

Happy staff was only part of our wellbeing this year. Students and parents have been learning about positive psychology. Each term we have looked at a different layer grit, resilience, growth mindset, mindfulness, happiness and wellbeing. Students have learnt that happiness, mental health and wellbeing are things which can be developed. Plans for next year is to do even more.

This ‘In Brief’ article originally appeared in the July 2016 edition of UKEdMagazine. Click here to freely read online.

@MsHMFL Assistant Headteacher – Wiltshire/Gloucestershire