A Wellbeing Framework for Schools

1 A Wellbeing FrameworkforSchoolsHEALTH EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPA Wellbeing Framework for SchoolsHealth Education Partnership Limited108 Magdalen RoadNorwich NR3 4AN 2012 by Health Education Partnership LimitedA Wellbeing Framework FoR ScHooLS3 Acknowledgements .. page 4 ForewordJenny Fox Eades ..page 5 Section 1: IntroductionRationale .. page 7 Purpose of document .. page 8 Who is it for? .. page 8 Defining and understanding Wellbeing .. page 9 National context and priorities .. page 10 Local context and priorities .. page 12 Healthy Schools Programme .. page 13 Methodology and consultation process.

2 Page 14 References and useful resources .. page 16 Section 2: school EthosSchool ethos .. page 18 Leadership .. page 20 school environment .. page 24 Staff Wellbeing .. page 28 Pupil voice .. page 32 Family involvement and support .. page 36 Anti-bullying .. page 40community cohesion .. page 43 Healthy activities: physical activity, healthy eating and emotional health .. page 48 The arts .. page 54 Spirituality .. page 57 Sustainable development .. page 60 Transition .. page 66 Section 3: TaughtPersonal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE).

3 Page 70 Social, Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) .. page 76 Philosophy for children .. page - The Mindfulness in Schools Project .. page 82 Section 4: Assessment and CelebrationAssessment .. page 85celebration .. page 93 Section 5: AppendicesPupil consultations .. page 94 Staff consultations .. page 99contents4 ContributorsThe following people contributed to the development and content of this document:z Jan Etoile consultant, Etoile Enterprises Rebecca greenslade Adviser, Health Education Partnership Ltd. christine Mcinnes Adviser, Health Education Partnership Ltd.

4 David Millard Adviser, Health Education Partnership Ltd. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence. AristotleWe would like to thank all the Southwark staff and pupils who participated in consultations and interviews for their time and valuable thanks to:z Denise barber, Southwark Music Servicesz ian booth, gifted and Talented coordinator, bacon s collegez Simon Eccles, Headteacher, Spa Schoolz Sandra Hayes, Art teacher, bredinghurst Schoolz Evelyn Holdsworth, Headteacher, John Donne Primaryz Pauline Hinchliffe, Excellence in Southwarkz John ivens, Headteacher, The bethlem and Maudsley Hospital Schoolz Penny Smith-orr, SAcRE consultant for Southwarkz Joe Rea, Excellence in Southwarkz Liz Robinson, Headteacher, Surrey Square Primaryz Sonia Sharman, community Nutritionist, Southwark PcTz Peter White, Headteacher.

5 Brunswick Park Primaryz kevin Williams, Sustainable Learning officer, Southwark LAz Nick Wilkins, Excellence in SouthwarkA Wellbeing Framework FoR ScHooLS5 Jenny Fox EadesWellbeing is a broad and complex subject - and one that has always been very important to teachers. in recent years there has been renewed interest in children s Wellbeing . indeed, some argue that Schools now focus too much on issues like Wellbeing and not enough on their core purpose of helping children to learn. What i think this extraordinarily comprehensive document makes very clear is that it need not be a question of learning oR Wellbeing - Wellbeing and learning are two sides of a coin and cannot be separated.

6 Humans learn - it is part of what it means to be human. We are learning from our first breath until our last. And learning helps us to thrive, to grow, to flourish, it is essential to our Wellbeing . Learning helps us to achieve Wellbeing and achieving Wellbeing helps us to learn. Education certainly does involve learning to read, to write, to speak French, to play the violin, to master quadratic equations. it also involves learning about ourselves and other people and about our communities. Education, whatever the subject matter, helps us to grow and to change. As one teacher says in this document, What does education mean?

7 It means transformation. You will find in these pages a wealth of great discussion, good ideas and inspirational practice - to help you to think more deeply about YoUR Wellbeing and that of your students, to assist that process of transformation. And thinking of your own Wellbeing can and ought to come first. The buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh has pointed out that anyone in the helping professions must first help themselves, before they can help other people. The Wellbeing of teachers and headteachers, midday assistants, cleaners, parents and even education academics, is essential to the Wellbeing of the rising generation.

8 A focus on Wellbeing does NoT mean that the children we work with need to feel good all the time. Life is not like that. Sometimes they will be unhappy. Sometimes they will struggle with their work and relationships. That is normal. overcoming struggles, learning that unhappiness can pass, are all part of what caring Schools help children to experience and learn to understand for themselves. There are stories from many such caring Schools and from many great teachers in these pages. i hope you enjoy them and that they provoke questions and ideas. i hope you learn something that will contribute to YoUR Wellbeing - and to the Wellbeing of those you work with.

9 Jenny Fox Eades is a teacher, freelance education advisor and renowned author. Foreword6 Cover photographJohn Donne SchoolThis weaving represents our school The children have shared their hopes and The staff have written the gifts that they will weaving these strands together we are saying:z together we can help you to achieve to be the best you can be z you belong to this school communityz you are strongly woven in - you cannot fall outz we all affect each otherz our successes are shared by us Moyler, Deputy HeadA Wellbeing Framework FoR RationalePupil Wellbeing is at the heart of this document.

10 It is written in light of both personal and professional shared experiences and new bodies of research that confirm the importance of developing both student resilience and competency in order to improve their Wellbeing . We acknowledge the excellent practice that has contributed to Wellbeing in many Schools and, building upon that foundation, envisage the advantages when Wellbeing is made central to the way a school also comes at a pertinent time; last year, the new coalition government announced their commitment to Wellbeing through their intention to measure the nation s levels of happiness.