Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Life Love and Learning to the Full

At TEAM Academy Trust we feel it is very important for all of our children to feel safe, happy and emotionally secure. Children’s mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront of our thinking and we recognise that it is our responsibility to ensure we promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school. Through our broad and balanced curriculum we promote British values and prepare our children for the future. In order to achieve high standards within this area we have implemented the following things:

• High standards for pupil safeguarding.

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

• Comprehensive PSHE Curriculum

We have implemented a comprehensive PSHE Education programme called Jigsaw. The scheme brings together PSHE Education, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development. A variety of teaching strategies are used and are mindful of each child's preferred learning style. The scheme has been designed as a whole school approach with all years working on the same theme at the same time. 

What the children learn

• Being Me In My World

Covers a wide range of topics, including a sense of belonging, welcoming others and being part of a school community, a wider community, and a global community; it also looks at children’s rights and responsibilities, working and socialising with others, and pupil voice.

• Celebrating Difference

Focuses on similarities and differences and teaches about diversity, such as disability, racism, power, friendships, and conflict; children learn to accept everyone’s right to ‘difference’.

• Dreams and Goals

Aims to help children think about their hopes and dreams, their goals for success, what personal strengths are, and how to overcome challenges, via team work skills and tasks. Children learn about experiencing and managing feelings of pride, ambition, disappointment, success; and they get to share their aspirations, the dreams and goals of others in different cultures/countries, and their dreams for the world.

• Healthy Me

Covers two main areas of health: Emotional health (relaxation, being safe, friendships, mental health skills, body image, relationships with food, managing stress) and Physical health (eating a balanced diet, physical activity, rest and relaxation, keeping clean, drugs and alcohol, being safe, first aid) in order for children to learn that health is a very broad topic.

• Relationships

Has a wide focus, looking at diverse topics such as families, friendships, pets and animals, and love and loss. A vital part of this is about safeguarding and keeping children safe; this links to cyber safety and social networking, as well as attraction and assertiveness; children learn how to deal with conflict, their own strengths and self-esteem. They have the chance to explore roles and responsibilities in families, and look at stereotypes.

• Changing Me

Deals with change of many types, from growing from young to old, becoming a teenager, assertiveness, self-respect and safeguarding. Self and body image, puberty, attraction and accepting change are diverse subjects for children to explore. Each year group thinks about looking ahead, moving year groups or the transition to secondary school. Life cycles and how babies are made and grow are treated sensitively and are designed to meet children’s needs. All year groups learn about how people and bodies change.

Learning Champions

           In September 2018 Pilton Bluecoat Academy implemented a new initiative called Learning Champions. This approach focuses on mental health, wellbeing and building learning power. At the heart of our approach lies an equation which sits at the                   foundation of all the activities we offer. This is listed below:

           1.Unlock learning behaviours

           Talk the language of learning. Make the how of learning explicit. Grow high value learning characteristics.

           2.Build learning habits

           Create classroom cultures that cultivate the habits and attitudes of curious, confident and independent learners.

           3. A shaped learning character

           All young people equipped with the learning habits AND the qualifications to thrive in the 21st Century.

           Learning Champions targets all ability groups within the school especially the disadvantaged group. Children in receipt of Pupil Premium are given specific attention in terms of activities related to developing personal growth and                                 academically through intervention or challenging opportunities for high attaining pupils.

           All the activities work on a half termly basis and the children’s progress is reviewed. The activities on offer at present are

• Pilton House Residential home - working with the elderly (see strand 4)
• St Mary’s Church  Taskforce (see strand 4)
• The Walking Curriculum  (see strand 2)
• Raising Aspirations through Art
• Improving communication and maths through cooking
• Mentoring
• Gardening through Maths