Well-being is at the heart of everything we do at Liberty Woodland School. Not only are high levels of well-being an important part of feeling happy, secure and fulfilled, they are also a critical component in the pursuit of high quality learning. High levels of well-being allow students to be fully present and prepared to learn.
At Liberty Woodland School, development of personal and social skills, the development of emotional intelligence and self-regulation alongside a strong focus on positive mental health are absolutely crucial. We are living in a world which is fast-paced, demanding and challenging. We need to proactively work to equip our young people with tools and strategies to manage anything and everything that comes their way in both their personal and professional lives.
Mental Health
All educators are developed and trained to observe and support young people with their mental health. We dedicate 30-45 minutes of every single school day to pastoral care, to support our young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. That’s how important this is and how important it should be. When young people are mentally healthy it helps them to feel happy and enjoy their lives, incidentally freeing their minds up to achieve academic success.
Some of our strategies are…
Every day begins with a secondary community morning meeting. Morning meetings are both a structured time and a culture. They foster a sense of belonging, and are a place where students learn to be the best version of themselves. This is where we reflect on our previous day’s achievements and challenges and commit to a constructive day ahead. We say affirmations and set personal intentions.
We practise mindfulness. Mindfulness reduces stress, improves focus, and enhances emotional regulation, leading to better academic performance and overall well-being. It grounds us for a positive day of learning ahead.
We end our day with a secondary community meeting. In this session we reflect upon our day, making sure we end the day with positivity. This is an opportunity to bookend the day so that students do not take home weight from their day. Any issues or challenges are resolved, as well as drawing positive attention to behaviours, achievements or acts of kindness from members of our school community during the day.
We have a resident chef who prepares healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for our pupils. Students eat together with our teachers with mealtimes being an important part of our day where we communicate, connect and reflect.
Our students spend time learning outdoors in a natural environment. The connection between spending time outdoors in nature and positive mental health is irrefutable. Being outdoors also improves communication skills and social relationships, alongside the connection to nature that helps us feel a part of this world. Research conducted amongst Key Stage 3 students (age 11-14), shows that outdoor learning makes students happier and not only develops strong life and character skills, but also improves attainment in many academic areas.