Well-being and Trauma Informed Schools Status
Our Trauma Informed School’s Status
We are passionate about improving learning, metal health and quality of life for children.
There is evidence that appropriately-trained and supported staff such as teachers, school nurses, counsellors, and teaching assistants can achieve results comparable to those achieved by trained therapists in delivering a number of interventions addressing mild to moderate mental health problems. We are appropriately training school staff to take on this task.
The aim of the Bishops’ C of E Learning Academy is for every member of the school community to feel valued and respected, and for all persons to be treated fairly. We are a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect. We believe that self-esteem affects all thinking and behaviour and impacts on learning and performance. We aim to provide positive everyday experiences so that our children are more likely to reach their full potential.
The core beliefs of the Bishops’ C of E Learning Academy are that:
- Behaviour can change and that every child can be successful.
- Praising and a system of rewards are more likely to change behaviour than blaming and punishing. Using a positive system of rewards will increase children’s self-esteem and thus help them to achieve more.
- Celebrating success helps children to achieve more.
- Being aware of each child’s needs and their individual circumstances helps us to act in the fairest way. We always consider the safety of other children and minimize disruption while helping children acquire self-discipline.
- Reinforcing good behaviour helps our children feel good about themselves.
What this will look like at the Bishops’:
- Relationships, connection and belonging are central to the school ethos
- Creating an environment of psychological and physical safety is fundamental
- One size does not fit all – children are viewed developmentally and individually
- All behaviour is viewed as communication and with curiosity
- A whole school ethos and approach that has a common language, consistency and understanding
- Supporting children to develop the capacity for self-regulation
- Policies reflect the learning from neuroscience and attachment theory
- A highly structured and predictable environment
- Adaptive to the needs and requirements of the child
- A ‘no matter what’ approach
In short FUN and KINDNESS are key to everything we do. Please watch the video below which we think illustrates that perfectly!
Play is a powerful tool
Adults and children alike, we’re all getting to grips with how to live in this new, temporary ‘normal’.
But children have one simple, yet powerful tool at their fingertips to help them cope with the anxiety caused by a pandemic. Play.
Whether they’re battling boredom, pining for the playground or generally unsure about the current situation, play helps children be more resilient and feel better.
See below for a treasure trove of games, tips and resources from the Play team at Great Ormond Street Hospital to help your family through this worrying time:
Mrs Rachael Hatch
Mental Health and Well-being Lead
Miss Esther Sherwen
TIS Practitioner
Mrs Chloe Mitchell
TIS Practitioner
Mrs Sharon Redman
Staff Wellbeing Champion
Ms Judith Hine
Wellbeing Champion
Mrs Hayley Waters
Wellbeing Champion
Mrs Louisa Higman
Autism Champion