When pupils join the Junior School, we do all we can to ensure they settle in quickly, make friends and enjoy their new environment. They are assigned an older buddy who writes to them in the summer term before they start, and meets them at the induction afternoon to show them round the school. Then, in September, the pair are given activities to complete together, such as playing patball or reading in the library together, to help foster this bond further. Wellbeing is a core part of the general practice of the school as a whole, and our core values (listed below) underpin all that we do: Do the right thing Care for others Join in Strive for excellence They are regularly referred to by staff and are reinforced in assemblies, Form Tutor periods, Wellbeing lessons and by visiting speakers. They underpin our behaviour policy and the ways in which we relate to each other. ` The Wellbeing curriculum is comprised of three strands: Relationships and Emotional Wellbeing, Living in the Wider World, and Health and Wellbeing. Lessons are tailored to the needs of the year group or class but common themes are repeated throughout the Junior School, often relating to the Junior School values. Circle time is sometimes used in lessons to develop trust, empathy and respect, and it is a time to share issues that concern the pupils as well
as valuing differences, managing difficult emotions and developing self-esteem.
As well as curricular Wellbeing lessons, assemblies are often used to promote Wellbeing topics such as living a healthy lifestyle, empathy, mental health, resilience and making good choices. Every Friday, within our celebration assembly, leaves are added to our kindness tree when boys nominate each other for acts of kindness. The kindness tree – built specially for us by the Upper School DT club - takes pride of place in the Junior School hall and is integral to our ethos. ‘In the Junior School we have a Kindness Tree which was made for us by members of the Senior School. It takes pride of place in the hall - pupils nominate each other for a kindness leaf and these leaves are awarded in our Celebration Assembly and placed on the tree.’ As part of the Wellbeing curriculum, pupils work together to learn about local issues and identify actions so that they develop their understanding of their community as responsible, caring citizens. This culminates in every year group completing a community action project, for example: organising food collections and delivering the provisions to local foodbanks, or organising and hosting a tea party for residents of local care homes. It is vital that our pupils begin to understand their place within the community and that they appreciate the positive impact that serving others can have on the wider world.
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