Pupil Wellbeing and Mental Health
"Belonging, Believing, Together Achieving"
At Bellfield Primary School, pupil wellbeing is the foundation of everything we do. Children cannot learn, thrive or achieve their potential unless they feel safe, regulated and emotionally secure. Our whole‑school approach reflects current research, national guidance and the expertise of our highly trained staff, who receive regular professional development in mental health, emotional regulation and trauma‑informed practice. We also work with external professionals and can make referrals where we feel additional support maybe needed.
If you wish to talk to anyone about your child's wellbeing at the school feel free to talk to; your child's class teacher, the pastoral team, any of the Deputy Headteachers or Headteacher and we will be able to help you or point you in the right direction for support.
Our Wellbeing Approach
We take a developmental, phase‑specific approach to mental health education and emotional regulation:
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Phase 1: Nursery to Year 2 — Children follow the myHappymind programme, which supports early emotional literacy, resilience and positive mental habits. Bellfield is proud to be Bronze Accredited, recognising our commitment to embedding wellbeing from the very start of a child’s school journey.
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Phase 2: Years 3–6 — Older pupils use the Zones of Regulation to understand their emotions, identify triggers and develop strategies to return to a calm, ready‑to‑learn state. This structured approach helps pupils build independence and self‑management skills.
Targeted Interventions
Alongside our universal offer, we provide a range of evidence‑informed interventions tailored to individual needs:
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Forest School — Research shows that outdoor learning improves confidence, reduces stress and supports emotional resilience. Our Forest School sessions give pupils space to explore, problem‑solve and regulate through nature‑based experiences.
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Emotional Regulation Support — Staff deliver targeted sessions to help pupils recognise emotions, practise calming techniques and build coping strategies.
- Pastoral Support - Our pastoral team are highly experienced working with children, some of whom have had very complex needs. They work closely with pupils 1:1 providing emotional support where needed to ensure pupils are ready to return to the classroom.
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Therapy Dog Support — We are very fortunate to have a school therapy dog - in training, working with PAWS Therapy. Therapy dogs have been shown to reduce anxiety, increase motivation and support emotional regulation. Pupils benefit from structured sessions as well as informal wellbeing interactions.
Why Wellbeing Matters?
Current research highlights that:
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Children with strong emotional regulation skills show higher academic progress and better long‑term outcomes.
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Positive mental health in childhood is linked to improved attendance, stronger relationships, and greater resilience.
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Whole‑school wellbeing approaches significantly reduce behavioural incidents and increase pupils’ readiness to learn.
These findings reinforce our belief that wellbeing is not an “add‑on”, it is essential for our pupils When children feel secure, valued and emotionally supported, they are able to engage fully with learning and flourish both academically and personally.
