An emotionally healthy school is one in which the emotional wellbeing of pupils and staff is given a high priority in all aspects of school life.
A focus on wellbeing is critical to the social development and educational achievement of children and young people. Research shows it has important consequences for health and social outcomes in adult life.
As children and young people progress through school, their social and emotional development is enhanced through various ways including the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, technical skills and intelligence. In order to progress and develop through childhood into adulthood, consideration needs to be given to support children and young people to enhance their emotional health and wellbeing.
What is Emotional WellBeing?
Emotional WellBeing is defined by the World Health Organisation like this;
“A state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”
So Emotional WellBeing is not about being happy all the time – it’s about learning how to manage your emotions, having resilience for when things go wrong, and developing positive and lasting self esteem.
An emotionally healthy young person should be able to:
- Be curious
- Face and learn from problems
- Cope with changes and differences
- Make and keep friends
- Feel safe
- Make positive choices
- Care about mine and others feelings
- Enjoy their own company
- Learn new skills and information
- Know when things are right and wrong
- Play and explore
- Be happy with themself
Why teach Emotional Health and WellBeing?
There is a large amount of evidence that mental WellBeing underpins successful learning and living. According to the National Service Framework for children and young people:
"Mental health problems in children are associated with educational failure,
family disruption, disability, offending and antisocial behaviour, placing demands
on social services, schools and the youth justice system. Untreated mental health
problems create distress not only in the children and young people, but also for
their families and carers, continuing into adult life and affecting the next generation.”
Schools are one of the first places where Emotional problems can be picked up, and offer the opportunity for effective education for all children and young people as well as early intervention for those with specific difficulties.
Increasingly, schools are being asked to work effectively with the NHS and other organisations to deliver positive health outcomes for children and young people, and through the five Every Child Matters outcomes and the new OFSTED WellBeing indicators, schools will be judged on how well they fulfil this responsibility.
This website aims to give teachers the tools to develop excellent support for all children and young people in their school.
