Wellbeing for Children

“South Hill Primary School is a nurturing environment in which wellbeing forms the heart of the school’s culture.”

Ofsted, July 2024

At South Hill Primary School, children’s wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that children learn best when they feel happy, safe and valued, and we place mental health and emotional wellbeing at the centre of school life.

Through a whole school approach, we help children develop confidence, resilience and strong relationships, giving them the skills they need to manage challenges and care for their wellbeing both now and in the future.

A Caring and Supportive School Environment

Wellbeing is woven into everyday life at South Hill. Children are supported through:

• Movement and mindfulness activities such as the Daily Mile and GoNoodle

• The Zones of Regulation, helping children recognise and manage their emotions

• A Friendship Bench encouraging kindness and inclusion at playtimes

• A welcoming outdoor environment including sensory trails, fitness equipment and the Smokey Trail

• Healthy daily lunches

• A calm, positive approach to behaviour

• A strong “Just Talk” culture, where children feel listened to and supported

All staff are trained in Therapeutic Thinking and trauma informed approaches, ensuring children feel understood and supported.

Pastoral Support

We provide tailored pastoral care to meet individual needs. Our support includes access to a school counsellor, Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), Drawing and Talking therapy, nurture provision, and family support services. Every classroom has a worry box or worry monster, giving children a safe way to share concerns.

Celebrating Wellbeing Together

We mark key events such as Children’s Mental Health Week, Feeling Good Week, and our much-loved Wellbeing Festival, which brings our school community together through music, creativity and fun. This year’s Mental Health Week theme, “The Power of Belonging,” helped children explore kindness, inclusion and celebrating differences—key foundations for confidence and happiness.

Pupil Voice: The Power of Us

We are proud to be working towards the Wellbeing Quality Mark, further strengthening our commitment to every child’s emotional wellbeing. As part of this work, we run “The Power of Us,” a pupil led initiative for Key Stage 2 children. This project ensures that pupil voice is central to wellbeing provision and that children play an active role in shaping their school environment. Through this initiative, pupils develop important life skills, including:

• Confidence and teamwork

• Responsibility and leadership

• Problem solving and resilience

Children meet weekly with Mrs Khan (our School Counsellor), to plan their and lead the project of their choice, share ideas and develop leadership, teamwork and resilience. this is because we believe children’s voices matter.

Pupils reflected positively on their experiences:

• Mollie: “I enjoyed everything about this project.”

• Andreea: “I really liked looking through all the catalogues and budgeting.”

• Rose: “I like planting and watering the plants and seeds.”

• Aidan: “I have enjoyed planting in the beautiful sunshine.”

• Isaac: “I have enjoyed helping to change our school in a positive way.”

These reflections demonstrate how meaningful pupil involvement supports wellbeing, builds pride in the school community, and strengthens a sense of belonging.