EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
WELLBEING AT SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL
SUTTON VALENCE SCHOOL HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS STRONG COMMUNITY ETHOS AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT , WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN REINFORCED WITH AN INCREASED FOCUS UPON PROVIDING THE VERY BEST WELLBEING SUPPORT TO ITS PUPILS . AS PART OF THIS FOCUS , A NEW SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITION WAS CREATED AND , IN AUGUST THIS YEAR , MAJA TRACHONITIS JOINED THE SCHOOL AS THE ASSISTANT HEADTEACHER RESPONSIBLE FOR WELLBEING . SHE EXPLAINS THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES SHE IS LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT AT SUTTON VALENCE .
Life in the 21st century is challenging for many people to navigate . Rates of mental ill health continue to rise and support services continue to be stretched beyond capacity . More than ever , it is important to raise the importance of taking proactive steps to look after our wellbeing . Just as we know the importance of taking action to look after our physical health , we need to be proactive in engaging in activities to intentionally improve our mental health wellbeing . As my role is solely dedicated to fostering wellbeing within our community , it has allowed for several new initiatives to be put in place .
Student Wellbeing Ambassador Programme
We have ten senior students who are currently undertaking training sessions to become Wellbeing Ambassadors . We are aware that students sometimes feel more comfortable talking to another student rather than a trusted adult . This additional layer of pastoral support helps students to find the courage to reach out for further support . Our Student Ambassadors are currently undergoing their Level 1 Award in Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health , accredited by the First Aid Awards ( FAA ).
Staff Wellbeing Ambassador Programme
A team of 15 staff will meet on a monthly basis to try various wellbeing strategies . We use evidenced-based research from the science of wellbeing when selecting strategies that will be practical for adopting into the school . Having tried these strategies first-hand , staff are able to share their experiences with the wider community and promote the importance of pro-actively looking after our mental health .
Wellbeing Centre
Our newly opened Wellbeing Centre offers a supervised safe space for children to visit at break and lunch times . These times of the school day can often be difficult for young people to navigate . This space allows students to connect with others and engage in wellbeing activities . Lessons for wellbeing also take place here in which we provide evidence-backed practical ways to promote self-regulation , kindness , goal setting and resilience .
Year Group Specific PSHE / RSE programme
In addition to the delivery of PSHE sessions in Tutor Time , students have regular ‘ break-out ’ sessions . This allows key topics to be delivered as a spiral approach in an age-appropriate way . We use our pastoral systems to understand trends of difficulties students experience at different points in their school journey to create a bespoke programme for our community .
Instead of talking about wellbeing initiatives and self-care practices , our programme allows students to experience them first-hand . By exploring a range of initiatives , our hope is that students find their own unique recipe of wellbeing practices that works for them . These sessions include journaling , writing letters of gratitude , mindfulness , strength spotting , yoga , and Zumba .
Training
All staff ( including support staff ) will have an opportunity to complete Mental Health First Aid Training . This training covers both the importance of staff looking out for themselves and for others . In providing this training , it allows for a larger proportion of our community to be equipped in noticing signs of deteriorating mental health to allow for early interventions to take place . As the year progresses , I look forward to introducing several more Wellbeing initiatives and seeing the positive impact this has on our school community .
www . svs . org . uk
184