The importance of a whole school approach.
‘In a whole school approach, wellbeing and mental health are everyone's business,’ with genuine engagement across the entire community: staff, pupils, governors, parents and external services. The approach involves multiple components including early identification and intervention; staff wellbeing and development; and skills-based work for pupils, but above all it adopts a positive and universal focus on wellbeing.
Why have a whole school approach?
- Improved pupil wellbeing
- Improved staff wellbeing and retention
- Improved academic learning
- Strong link to improving school’s overall effectiveness
- Development of social and emotional skills
- Prevention of MH problems
- Improved school behaviour - reduction in fights, bullying, exclusions and absence.
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The Partnership worked with Professor Katherine Weare, who developed an evidence-based guide on what ‘works in promoting social and emotional wellbeing in schools’ and provides guidance on how to embed a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
This and other resources for schools can be found below.