Wellbeing at Barfield
We promote positive mental and physical health so that our children leave us as confident and happy individuals with a wellbeing toolkit ready to take on their next challenges.
Our school well-being program is a whole-school approach designed to support the mental, emotional, and social well-being of our children. It focuses on empowering our children as well as, providing emotional support, and fostering a positive and inclusive school environment. This is achieved through a variety of different ways like PSHE lessons, assembly, and class sessions led by our school counsellor.
Within Barfield we have both a School Parliament in the Upper School and a School Council in the Lower School who meet both separately and together. They play a key role in promoting student voice. Children are elected to represent their peers, providing feedback and ideas on school life, including well-being initiatives. Through regular meetings, the councils help shape and organise events, initiate changes and raise awareness of mental health and well-being across the school community.
Some children require a little more emotional support than others. For these children can we offer ELSA sessions, Drawing and Talking and Lego Therapy depending on the child and level of support required.
ELSE sessions are targeted interventions to help students develop emotional literacy, resilience, and coping strategies. These sessions provide a safe space for pupils to explore feelings, improve self-awareness, and build social skills, supporting those who may be struggling with emotional regulation or low self-esteem.
Drawing and Talking is a gentle, non-intrusive therapeutic intervention aimed at supporting children experiencing emotional difficulties. Over a series of sessions, pupils are encouraged to express themselves through drawing, helping them process unresolved issues and develop emotional well-being in a safe, nurturing environment.
LEGO Therapy is a play-based social development program designed to help children develop social and communication skills through collaborative LEGO building activities.
A Healthy Mind & Body
Barfield children develop the understanding of what contributes to a healthy mind and body and it enables them to have the emotional literacy to express themselves, not only when things go right, but also when they go wrong. We provide a platform that gives our children a voice; a voice that allows them to be able to express their feelings and know that these feelings will be listened to and acknowledged.
Parents say the pastoral care is ‘exceptional’ and the sense of family really shines through – relationships between staff and parents are markedly strong.
“My son’s TA texted the results of his spelling test after a wobble one morning just to reassure me.”
– Good Schools Guide
Come and visit us!
Barfield is a warm, caring, family-orientated school, where happy and supported children go on to achieve great things.
