As set out by The Department for Education, a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing incorporates 8 key principles, which when applied consistently will contribute and promote improved mental health and wellbeing for your school community.
This document contains guidance to help you understand how BounceTogether can support your school in achieving the learning outcomes aligned to the 8 principles, as well as evaluate and shape a strategy specific to the needs of your setting.
There is significant overlap between the 8 principles and The Ofsted Inspection framework, so this document also contains information to help your school showcase the impact of strategy, meet expectations, and answer key wellbeing and mental health-related questions.
A whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing goes beyond teaching and learning and brings the entire school community together to tackle mental health challenges effectively and remove any stigmas. It involves all school stakeholders being involved with and committed to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for pupils, staff, parents/carers, and the wider school community.
This diagram below illustrates the eight principles and is taken from 'Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing - a whole school and college approach'. The principles are also listed below and you can find the whole document here.
A whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing has proven benefits for the whole school community, not just for mental health and wellbeing but also for attainment, attendance, behaviour, resilience, self esteem, confidence and much more.
