Feltonfleet’s approach to Mental Fitness and Wellbeing is a proactive and dynamic effort focused on building mental strength, resilience, and adaptability.
This approach equips pupils to effectively navigate and thrive amidst the challenges of a constantly changing world. The wellbeing of pupils is not a mere complement but an integral determinant of their overall growth and success.
Our staff continuously enhance pastoral care by addressing the challenges young people face today, ensuring that each pupil’s individual needs are not only met but supported and stretched to help them thrive.
Head | Shelley Lance
Rather than a reactive response to mental health issues, our approach emphasises proactive mental fitness. Our bespoke Wellbeing Curriculum is designed to go beyond crisis management, actively instilling practices that build resilience, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility, and a growth mindset.
By dedicating curriculum time to mental health, mindfulness, mental fitness and elucidating the workings of the brain, we aim to highlight the significance of individual wellbeing. This deliberate investment in time not only emphasises its importance but also signals this as a priority in the School’s educational approach.
A school-wide awareness of mindfulness is instrumental in equipping pupils to respond skilfully to the present moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Pupil-led 'mindful moments' are a daily ritual, aiding concentration and settling thoughts. This mindfulness practice contributes significantly to the overall mental fitness of the pupils.
Wellbeing Wednesdays offer dedicated days for pupils to enhance emotional management skills, tackle challenges, and flourish. Opportunities to collaborate in mixed-age activities promotes a sense of service and community, as well as enables older pupils to develop patience, compassion and leadership, and potentially reduce any anxiety younger children may have about the landscape beyond their classroom. A diverse co-curricular enrichment program complements these efforts, providing platforms for self-exploration and identity formation.
At the heart of our pastoral care program is a deep understanding of each pupil's unique learning and emotional needs. Effective social tracking methods and comprehensive assessments, facilitated by an attentive and dedicated pastoral support team made up of a broad spectrum of staff, ensure meticulous tracking of pupils' social and emotional development. This approach enables discreet steering and timely support for any emerging mental health risks, which might otherwise remain concealed.
We recognise the crucial role parents play in reinforcing these practices. To support this, we offer regular communication, workshops, and events designed to engage parents and extend our mental fitness efforts beyond the classroom. This collaborative approach ensures a consistent and supportive environment for each pupil's holistic development.
As educators, our responsibility extends beyond reacting to mental health concerns; we must actively cultivate the mental strengths that empower pupils to face the challenges of tomorrow.
Deputy Head Pastoral | Helen Marland
