At Barrow Hedges, we encourage children to make healthy food choices; we provide pupils with a number of opportunities (during the school day and extra-curricular) to be physically active; and, we aim to raise awareness of mental health, focusing on ensuring our pupils feel happy and safe in school. By raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing as well as physical health, our pupils gain the motivation, confidence and self-respect to make healthy life choices. Additionally, the benefits go beyond health - we know that when children are healthy and happy at school, they can and will achieve more.

In September 2022, we achieved our Gold Healthy Schools Award in recognition of our work towards supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Additionally, we have several members of staff who are specifically qualified to support our children's mental health and wellbeing. Within our inclusion team, our ELSAs are supported by a Wellbeing Teaching Assistant who delivers targetted wellbeing interventions. Additionally, our staff are given regular opportunities for continued professional development in this area each year. Miss Rebekah Swinfield recently completed the Senior Mental Health Lead qualification as part of our continued drive to improve mental health and wellbeing education.

We also want to empower our children to promote positive mental health: we have regular opportunities for pupil voice through surveys and small group sessions (both internally and externally); we have child-friendly policies and child-designed mascots to promote wellbeing; and, this year, we will be training a select group of children to become 'Wellness Warriors' - advocates for mental health and wellbeing on a class level.

If you would like more information, you can visit the Healthy Schools London website by clicking here, or alternatively speak to Miss R Swinfield about our current areas of focus. 

Miss Rebekah Swinfield is the leader for Healthy Schools, Mental Health and Wellbeing