This week has been Children's Mental Health Week with the theme of 'Let's Connect.'  Across the school, pupils have been engaging in a range of activities to encourage community spirit, higher self-esteem and empathy.  They have looked at different ways in which they are connected to their classmates and explored how they can come together to support each other.  What a marvellous way to end the half term! 

The Young Voices concerts are the largest children’s choir concerts in the world.

We have been rehearsing weekly at school, since the middle of September, and self-confidence, self-belief and self-motivation skills have flourished.  Every week, without fail, the 60 strong choir have turned up to practice in their lunchtime, which is testament to their commitment.  Being part of a community and being able to communicate through music has been an invaluable experience for everyone involved.

On the 16th January our pupils performed alongside around 7500 other children, as a single choir, to an audience of family and friends at the O2 Arena.  The atmosphere was sensational and we all had a marvellous time! We are incredibly proud of all our singers Can’t wait to register for next years event 🎤🎶

Children's Mental Health Week 7-11th February 2022

Wellbeing Week - October 2021

#HelloYellow World Mental Health Day 2020

On Friday 9th October we celebrated World Mental Health day in style!  In support of the Young Minds Charity, the Uk’s leading charity fighting for children’s and young people’s mental health, each child and adult in the school came in dressed in as much yellow as they could possibly lay their hands on!  The energy around the school was electric and, despite the children all being in separate bubbles, there was a real sense of community spirit that ran through the school.

Each teacher had planned a range of activities, pitched at different levels and learning styles, to encourage their youngsters to consider the importance of keeping their minds healthy, as well as their bodies.

In Nursery the children made the ‘longest paper chain’ and were proud of their collective piece.  They were able to recognise the importance of working together and showing support to everyone.  In Reception and KS1 there were Worry Monsters created to ‘feed’ any worries to for the monster to gobble up and take away.  A Speed friend activity gave the children the opportunity to connect and find out something new about each other and Superhero’s were designed with special powers of kindness, friendship and listening skills etc.

The KS2 children were also involved in a variety of tasks which considered a deeper thinking of positive mental health and how to recognise emotions, whilst being able to name them and ask for help.  Mindfulness colouring was undertaken whilst listening to meditation music to support relaxation and focus, whilst worry dolls were constructed tools for ‘taking on’ worries and removing them from the child.  Additionally children built a well-being tree from their positivity leaves and the Year 6 children drew pictures to convey their feelings and emotions through artwork inspired by Kandinsky.

However, without doubt, the most uplifting experience of the day was when the whole school came together, in their individual bubbles, for the first time since lockdown on the 23rd March.  Despite virtual weekly singing assemblies being posted it was the first opportunity for all the children to sing with each other in school.  Around the school field the children stood, socially distanced in their groups, to sing songs about feeling good.  They sang ‘Power in Me’ with actions, a song which promoted the very essence of the day, along with Top of the World, Mama Mia and Don’t Stop me Now!  The atmosphere was marvellous as was the chemistry in the air as everyone enjoyed taking part.  The sun came out and it was a most uplifting experience, one that everyone will remember.

Throughout this wide range of activities each child was able to learn about the power of a positive mind-set but more importantly to understand that it is okay to not be okay and where to go and what to do if they need support. The school raised £220.00 for the Healthy Young Minds Charity.