The Headteacher of SIAL.school, the only bilingual English/Italian primary school in the UK, explains why it is so crucial to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing at school and shares some wellbeing initiatives to put into action.
It is widely recognised that a child’s emotional health and wellbeing influence their cognitive development and learning as well as their physical, social and mental health in adulthood.
The Princess of Wales said on the occasion of the launch of the Shaping Us campaign: “The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships, and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives.”
For this very reason, making primary schools a nurturing and caring environment where children feel safe and heard is crucial and luckily more and more settings in the UK are working hard towards this goal.
Mental health and wellbeing in schools
Data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard on mental health and certainly had a severe impact on children and young people.
Schools can truly make a difference in children’s wellbeing by creating a safe space, helping them in building emotional regulation skills and raising awareness.
- Wellbeing ambassadors and wellbeing committee
If you are looking for ideas to promote wellbeing within your school, why not start by suggesting to appoint wellbeing ambassadors?
At SIAL.school we have a Wellbeing Committee made up of teachers and children which is charged with promoting the wellbeing of the whole school community through specific projects, such as the Box of Worries where children can leave a message, anonymous or not, sharing their concerns or their frustrations. Or the Random Act of Kindness Tree Display for children to share their actions of kindness anonymously. Simple ideas that by the way can easily be replicated at home.
- Circle time: learning how to express emotions
Daily check-ins are an important part of the pastoral care a primary school can offer.
At SIAL.school every morning the teacher will check in with all children in a dedicated circle time using a ‘mood meter’ which encourages the children to reflect on and express their emotions.
Talking about how they feel is also an excellent opportunity to expand their vocabulary and improve their proficiency in both languages, English and Italian.
- Mindfulness at school
Children who are mindful tend to have higher self-esteem, concentrate better and to be more emotionally resilient. Incorporating mindfulness into the daily classroom routines can help children explore their feelings and sensations, regulate their emotions and develop coping skills.
At SIAL.school we encourage our pupils to take short breaks to restore cognitive and psychological conditions for learning. We are proud to teach them that taking the time to stop and relax for a few minutes and enjoy a quiet moment are simple but effective ways of taking care of ourselves. A skill that will serve them for life.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
By taking any opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures that exist within British society, schools can be on the front line of promoting the wellbeing, acceptance and inclusion of all children.
Being a bi-cultural school this deeply resonates with us at SIAL.school: we actively work to ensure that all children (and adults) feel seen, heard, happy, safe, involved and able to perform to their potential, as shown by the Gold Equalities Award by EqualiTeach we achieved in 2021.
We are proud to deliver a LGBTQ+ Inclusive Education and we are committed to providing a safe, trusting environment where we challenge and inspire our children, nurturing them to become confident, accomplished and resilient individuals.
Happy children, fulfilled adults
At SIAL.school, the only bilingual English/Italian primary school in London, pupils’ wellbeing has always been paramount – social and emotional competence is developed and reinforced as much as academic skills.
It is our intention that children should leave our school with a strong academic foundation, combined with the self-esteem and confidence in their abilities and social skills that will ensure that they are fully prepared to embrace the exciting challenges ahead.
If you are curious about our bilingual and our pastoral care, get in touch and book a call with our School Office or a school tour: every day is an Open day at SIAL.school.
With a unique bilingual and bi-cultural enriched curriculum in which the standards set by the Italian Ministry of Education are integrated and complemented by the EYFS Framework and National English Curriculum, SIAL.school welcomes children aged 3 to 11.
The school is located in the heart of London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, just a short distance from Holland Park: book a private tour and visit the school whenever you like – every day is an Open Day at SIAL.school.
To know more please visit our website or contact their Admissions team: call 020 7603 5353 or email admissions@sial.school.
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