Celebration E-Zine 2022

Welcome to the Somerset Wellbeing Framework Celebration E-Zine ‘Wow, what a year this has been for everyone. Despite some really challenging circumstances, I have been constantly amazed by the dedication of our schools to providing the best for our children and young people. This e-zine allows us to celebrate the creativity and innovation abundant in Somerset schools to apply the Somerset Wellbeing Framework. Children, young people and school staff have demonstrated considerable resilience in the past 18 months, but now more than ever, we need to recognise the importance of building cultures of wellbeing in our schools. I hope you find the contents inspiring - I certainly did. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. Together, we can make a difference.’ Patsy Temple, Consultant in Public Health Somerset County Council

The Somerset Wellbeing Framework The Somerset Wellbeing Framework is our local model for helping to build wellbeing into the ethos, culture, routine life and core business of a school. It has been found to be effective in bringing about and sustaining emotional resilience and mental health benefits for the whole of a school population. Belonging Relationships Lifestyles Pillars of Wellbeing As part of the framework schools are encouraged to focus on 3 Pillars of Wellbeing which are a set of evidence-based themes that underpin good mental health. As schools work through the Somerset Wellbeing Framework they will have opportunities to submit examples of where they are achieving success against the Pillars of Wellbeing and gain awards for each pillar.



Belonging

Hear from schools… Danesfield Church of England Middle School Working closely with our local community for students to feel they belong. This year the year 8 students had a workshop with the architects Pearce+Faegan and helped design the education space in the new arts facility being built on Watchet’s East Quay. Chilthorne Domer Church School Community is very important to us and pupils enjoyed creating inspiring artworks to promote happiness, which were then displayed around the village. It was fantastic to receive such lovely feedback from parents and residents!

The Taunton Academy To help support our new Year 7s, we have been working hard to bring their own individual strengths to their new school by encouraging students to design their own flag which links with the rest of their tutor group to form a completed piece of bunting. Each tutor group displays these on their own notice board within their form rooms and remains with them until Year 11.

The Taunton Academy Wellbeing is at the heart of transition To support successful transition of Year 6 students Taunton Academy used the pillars of wellbeing as their focus for their two-day transition programme. The programme includes teambuilding activities to create a sense of belonging and connection as well as facilitating opportunities for making new friendships. All students have the opportunity to take part in a range of taster sessions including PE, cookery, music and drama etc.) promoting the pillar of healthy lifestyle.

Milford Infants Queens Platinum Jubilee The Platinum Jubilee was such a special event for Milford Infants who hosted a whole school picnic. The children and staff learnt a song which they all sang during the picnic. The friends of Milford made cakes and provided drinks for everyone and the children created some wonderful artwork which was displayed around the playground. To make it even more special we were asked to display the artwork in a shop window in the local town centre so not only did the parents enjoy the creations the whole community did too!

Preston Church of England School Invincibles Military Club 34 military children attend the school’s fortnightly Invincibles club. They meet every other week and participate in a range of activities from crafts to check-in activities. It is designed to be a safe space for children to talk to other children in a similar situation, they participate in a range of craft and wellbeing activities. The club celebrate key days, such as military week. The children drew their own dandelion, which is the symbol of military children, and read aloud the military poem. The children lead the learning where possible and they came up with some beautiful ideas on how to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The school has a military board on display in school that celebrates the children’s work, and they are about to make their own school puppets!

Westfield Community Garden Growing a wellbeing community Westfield Academy At Westfield Academy Year 7 students have been helping with the new Westfield Community Garden in Yeovil. The school is responsible for two raised beds and Students take turns to take care of the beds. The garden has enabled the students to interact with the local community as well as make new friendships in their group. Pupils have reported improvements to their physical and mental health and Westfield pupils formally opened the garden with the local Mayor in March 2022.

Stoberry Park School School Prayer The Stoberry Park school prayer was created together by pupils and staff and encapsulate the aims and values of the school community. The prayer contributes to a school culture of respect, courtesy, kindness and honesty and is said regularly by all children and staff. During collective worship sessions a candle is also lit to encourage children to be mindful in the moment and consider how they can show the school prayer through their day. The prayer proved to be vital during lockdown where the community was not able to physically be together. A sense of togetherness and shared values through a message that we all believe was created and important to so many of us going through difficult times. The prayer contributes to a whole school culture of where love and happiness is celebrated by all.

Relationships

Bishop Fox’s Academy Building resilience – A wellbeing recovery curriculum for pupils Bishop Fox’s vision and values hold student wellbeing at the core. The recovery curriculum was designed in consultation with both students, their families, and staff to establish what was important to them as they returned to a routine and school. The school upskill staff through training around Mental Health Wellbeing, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the widely acclaimed EP training ‘returning to (normal). The feedback from students, parents, and staff in giving opportunities 'to just be' was exceptional.

Hamp Academy We have set up a Wellbeing Committee which will continue helping us embed and celebrate the tree pillars into school life. Members of this committee, as well as our Headteacher, Deputy, school dog and even our caretaker meet and greet children as they arrive each day. They are also there to say goodbye and check in on their day. Parents also know there is always an adult in the morning to check in with and this has helped build even better relationships with our families.

Chilthorne Domer Church School Several staff have become Mental Health Champions and we all celebrated Children's Mental Health Week. Pupils embraced the theme of \"Dress to Express\" in a special assembly and shared ways in which they express their individuality. Wellbeing certificates were created and awarded in recognition of this importance. We’ve also supported all children to benefit from yoga sessions and opportunities to be mindful.

The Taunton Academy Each wednesday, tutors supported by their student wellbeing champion facilitate Taunton Academy offers Wellbeing Wednesdays as part of the weekly school routine. Each Wednesday tutors, supported by their student wellbeing champion facilitate weekly sessions focussed on wellbeing offering signposting and support when needed. Staff are encouraged to focus on their own wellbeing, there is a wellbeing ‘box of treats’ in the staffroom for everyone to take a wellbeing moment when they can throughout the day. The school also offers pet therapy on a Wednesday, Bonzo the school dog is part of the team and (with its owner) supports anxious students to lessons, spending time with them to help brighten their day, bringing benefits for both students and staff alike!

Somerset Bridge Primary School Everyone matters – School Ambassador Worry Box Project Children felt they needed more opportunity to let staff know about things that were worrying them at Somerset Bridge and as a result came up with the idea of a worry box. The box was made by a PTA member and is situated in the wellbeing garden so that children have privacy to write and the worry sheets were designed by 2 year 6 students. The school has picked up many issues – small and large – that would not have come to light without the Worry Box.

Priddy & St Lawrence Primary School Senior Mental Health Lead – Ready Steady Go! Wellbeing Champions Priddy & St Lawrence Senior Mental Health Lead trained their first team of Wellbeing Champions this year. The pupils proudly wear their wellbeing badge, designed by one of the pupils. The Wellbeing Champions created a Wellbeing Information Board. KS1 Champions made a ‘Feelings Board’ to help pupils name their emotions. This has proved a real success, with children actively engaging with the board when needed. Wellbeing is Everybody’s Business Priddy & St Lawrence Wellbeing Action Group (WAG) organised a whole school community 'Wellbeing Week' with themed days such as Mindful Monday and Talking Tuesday! Informal drop-in sessions were held for parents to raise the profile of emotional health and wellbeing and provide space for parents to seek advice and support. They even managed to recruit new parents as part of the WAG!

The Taunton Academy Supporting Transition Primary Link Mentors are recruited from Year 7 and Year 9 to support the transition team in visiting year 6 primary schools, providing school tours and running Q&A sessions during transition teams. In school they support the new intake of pupils in their new tutor groups help welcome and settle the new pupils when the new term starts. Huish Primary Yeovil The Wellbeing Club Huish Primary has introduced a new well-being afterschool club this summer. Parents referred their children to the club, which was fully subscribed. Sessions began with mindfulness, followed by a video/life story linked to promoting positive mental health. the club offered weekly creative activities and relaxing music is played to create a calm atmosphere. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the club will be offered again next academic year.

Lifestyle

Chilthorne Domer Church School During Lockdown, Screen-Free Wednesdays were introduced where staff and children switched off devices and embraced the fresh air and creative/physical activities.

Somerset Bridge Primary School We have a fantastic school site, and we are making the most of it now, with children identifying trees, plants and minibeast as well as continuing to plant vegetables in our school garden. Each class now has a planter outside their classroom too. Children are involved in designing our lunchtime menu and we are focusing very much on healthy eating. The children take part in a cooking after school club where they learn about healthy eating.

The Taunton Academy Using the 5 ways to Wellbeing to maintain a healthy lifestyle Taunton Academy offers a range of sports and enrichment activities based on the 5 ways to wellbeing themes. The school has created a student Wellbeing Planner for the end of the summer term. Activities in the planner include mindful colouring, self care and goal setting activities linked to the 5 ways to Wellbeing. The planners are a conversation starter for students to discuss their own wellbeing. All students are given wellbeing helplines and websites to support them with the wellbeing over the summer.

Danesfield Church of England Middle School Danesfield has an after school gardening club who have been designing and making their own gardens, as well as growing vegetables in the school poly tunnel and veg patches. The Food Teacher has been running after school cookery sessions for years 7 and 8. Lots of students have been thrilled to do additional cooking after school.

Weston Zoyland Primary School’s Pupils - Pupil Voice Westonzoyland’s Year 2, 4 and 6 pupils took part in the SCC Public Health Schools Online Wellbeing Survey. The survey highlighted the need to support parents and families in helping children to make healthier lifestyle choices. This summer the school is focussing onmaking healthy eating choices. The student voice group have revised the rules on school snacks and also developed a lunch box policy to help inform parents and aid the school in making healthy lunch choices. Wonderful Online Wellbeing Page for Pupils The school created a self care webpages for pupils and their parents. Called ‘looking after yourself’ the page offers a range of online wellbeing activities which promote relaxation, calm and kindness activities.

Nether Stowey Primary School - God’s Garden God’s garden was first created in 2018 by staff and children. God’s Garden was developed in mind of bringing together spirituality and the pillars of wellbeing. The whole project from start to finished was led by the pupils and embedded as a whole school curriculum project. The space includes 4 different raised beds which includes sensory high smells plants and herbs, wild flowers for bees, fruits and vegetables which are used in the school kitchen, as well seasonal flowers. Water and plastic are recycled to support plant growing. Decorative ribbons are hung to represent the children of Nether Stowey where they write their hopes and aspirations, hymn lyrics and scriptures onto the ribbons to celebrate creation. The school sewing club made cushions and there is a bench enable mindful moments. The garden has acted as a sanctuary and safe space for staff and children. Year 6 pupils get to leave a legacy behind in the garden each year such as painted pebbles, sowing seeds etc. The garden is an area that enables nurturing and responsibility to take place, it represents a symbol of God’s Love and enjoyed by all.

Selwood Academy Year 8 Body Positivity Project Year 8 pupils at Selwood Academy undertook a whole community project on body image. Pupils explored the value of their inner world and made self portraits to express their individuality. Winners printed their portraits onto tshirts and they formed part of a body positivity catwalk at the local college. Eleven portraits were printed onto canvas and placed around Frome with body positivity quotes. The whole school have now been set the challenge of doing an art trail and finding the first letter of every quote. Frome Wholefood Shop love the images so much, they would like to bring all the artwork together in August and create a display in their shop window to celebrate the work!

Selwood Academy and Frome College Recycled Fashion Project Selwood Academy and Frome College students made recycled fashion as part of the body positivity campaign. Jai, aged 12 said, “I felt so proud to be able to create my own fashion and watch it on a catwalk, because most people my age wouldn’t get a chance to do this!”

Wellbeing Market at Selwood Academy Year 6 Pupils were given the brief to create a wellbeing product that would help Year 6 pupils cope with the stress of SATS. The project involved market research, advertising and then forming and selling at a school market. Stress balls, putty, worry beads, glitter jars and lavender sock toys were on sale, to name just a few! The pupils were proud to donate over £300 to a range of charities explored in school.

Engagement

Lunch Recipes During lockdown the Zing team have turned their kitchens into studios and have been making videos for you all to watch and enjoy…. Check out the links below to discover our playlists on YouTube; look out for new recipes being added! www.healthysomerset.co.uk Zing Somerset #onelifesomerset Zing Somerset Check out Zings website for more recipe videos, healthy eating tips, lunchbox ideas, monthly recipe books and much more or follow us on social media to see what we’re up to.

Working with our Partners to Promote Wellbeing Happy Healthy Holidays – Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) Funded by the Government’s Holiday, Activity and Food Programme, SASP delivered a Happy Healthy Easter Holiday programme for children who are eligible for free school meals. 9000 children took part in the holiday activities. One child said, “I love this – I’m never allowed to make a mess at home! I’ve never roasted marshmallows before”. A parent also said, “I caught my son sleeping with his course activity timetable at night and that’s the last thing he looks at before bed”. Bookings for summer holiday activities are now open and more information can be found at www.sasp.co.uk/ happy-healthy-holidays

Healthy Futures – 6 Week Programme delivered by SASP Healthy Futures is a 6 week Healthy Lifestyle programme delivered by SASP in schools. The project included interactive lessons with a solution focussed approach to enable children to make positive changes to their lifestyle. The project is often co-delivered by teaching staff to support sustainability of the project beyond the 6 week period. Between January and July 2022 690 children (23 classes) have participated in the project. For further information and to register an interest for your school contact [email protected] or [email protected] Beat the Street Yeovil From the 4th of May until 1st June 2022 Yeovil was transformed into a giant active travel game, 37 Beat Boxes were placed on lamp posts across Yeovil to encourage children and families to travel actively across the town. 13 primary and infant schools were involved in the project and on the final day of the game had over 7,000 active players travelling over 94,000 miles during the month of the game. SASP were also fortunate enough to make a video with Intelligent Health show casing the impact Beat the Street has made in Somerset - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xq9UWFZ7kY Yeovil becomes our third game we have ran in Somerset now after our Bridgwater and Taunton game during the last two years.

Young Persons Wellbeing Champion Somerset Wellbeing Framework Pupil Participation Toolkit Find out more about the Somerset Wellbeing Framework Pupil Participation Toolkit Designed by young people here.

What’s New! Supporting Schools to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle Health education is now mandated in all schools. Public Health has funded an evidence-based smoking prevention programme which provides teaching staff with training and online resources to deliver high-quality interactive sessions containing age-appropriate information about tobacco and reasons not to smoke. The programme is for students within Years 7-10. For more information, click here or to sign up contact Nicola Crocker, [email protected] Somerset County Council and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) have teamed up with Modeshift STARS to give all schools the opportunity to be recognised for supporting Sustainable and Active Travel. Modeshift STARS is the national accreditation scheme supported by the Department for Transport and allows schools to achieve Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum STAR awards for promoting sustainable and active travel. Modeshift Stars Kingfisher Primary School Kingfisher Primary is in the process of receiving their first ‘Modeshift Star’ which shows all the brilliant active travel initiatives they are providing for their staff, children, and families with at the school. For more information, click here or sign up here.

Mental Health Support Teams This service is for children aged 5-16 and is available in designated MHST schools across the county. MHSTs provide low intensity CBT interventions and support to schools to adopt a Whole Schools Approach to mental health and wellbeing. MHST Case Study - The Power of groupwork- the ripple effect! During a parent-led group session aimed at supporting children's anxiety, a parent commented that some of the elements in the programme could be useful for the teaching assistant team to implement in their work supporting pupils in the school. The parent then met with the school SENCO who has since arranged a training session with the EMHP for 20 teaching assistants focusing on SMART goal setting, creating a step-be-step hierarchy to reach an outcome and other skills and strategies too! This really highlights the power of feedback and ideas shared within group situations- your voice can make magic happen! Find out more about this service here - Mental Health Support Team (Schools) | Young Somerset

Sugar Smart In 2020 Somerset launched its SUGAR SMART campaign, calling on schools and colleges to take action to help reduce the amount of sugar we all consume. SUGAR SMART is a campaign of Jamie Oliver and Sustain to help local areas across the UK to tackle excessive sugar consumption. SUGAR SMART is an integral part of the Lifestyle pillar in the Somerset Wellbeing Framework and is free for educational settings to join. For more information and to access SUGAR SMART’s resources please visit: Somerset children & young people.

LIFEbeat has continued to work with Public Health to deliver Relationships, Sex and Health Education trainings to schools across the county. The focus has been on ways to create a whole school approach to fostering a community of belonging which promotes an inclusive culture of positive relationships across all stakeholders including parents, pupils, governors and staff. In addition, in summer 2020 funded Community& by the Violence Reduction Unit, Belonging LIFEbeat delivered Wellbeing programmes at Kilve Court for Year 9 Creativity/ Physical/ pupils from St Dunstan's, Glastonbury Purpose The Body and Whitstone School, Shepton Mallet focusing on a holistic model Nature/ Mental/ of wellness and community linked to Environment Emotional the three pillars of Belonging, Relationships and Healthy Lifestyles. Relationships

LIFEbeat Online Youth Leadership Programme – Spring 2021 This spring 2021, as the national lockdowns continued, “I have actually tried to the LIFEbeat team was excited to offer a 6-week online do something about my Youth Leadership programme for our alumni from mental well-being and Somerset and beyond. We came together weekly to proactively went out to connect and check-in and to create an online community get support to improve it in which we could collectively explore aspects of our since the sessions.” wellbeing and strategies for self-care. Through creative activities, small group discussions and facilitated challenges we explored our relationship to community and belonging; our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, relationships and connection to the environment and the natural world. In total, 13 Somerset young people joined young “It’s been the highlight people from Bristol and London for a series of 6 of my week, It puts me weekly meet ups. in a much better mindset afterwards.” Young People said – “I liked having something every week that brings some joy through lockdown and a time where I was at home with not a lot to do and not many people to see.”

LIFEbeat Exclusion Films LIFEbeat was funded by the Avon and Somerset Violence Reduction Unit to produce a film with Somerset schools in relation to raising awareness and understanding the complex issues surrounding school exclusion. The films can be found here: VRU LIFEbeat Exclusion Film (Short Version) Exclusion Trailer Exclusion Film Promo (Full Version) As part of the Exclusion film project, LIFEbeat did an interview with a parent of a child who has a diagnosis and who has been excluded from school.  The story is powerful and is an example of areas of challenge. Kristian's story: A Parent's experience of Exclusion and SEND

LIFEbeat Residential Camps for 14-18 year olds. LIFEbeat has been running annual wellbeing and creativity camps for 14-18 year olds in Somerset at Kilve Court since 2019. The camps are free for 50 eligible young people. They enable participants to challenge themselves, develop new skills, expand their creativity and make friends for life. A new camp is scheduled for 03-09 August 2022. Below is a link of the film made by local young people of the Somerset Youth Camp Led day in October 2021. LIFEbeat Kilve October Camp 2021

Relationships Sex and Health Education (RSHE) – CPD for Schools LIFEbeat this year created and delivered this month a 3-day Mental Health and Wellbeing Curriculum course as part of the RSHE CPD Programme to teaching staff from 13 different settings – including Safeguarding Services, Traveller Education, Special School, PRU, Secondaries and Primaries. As part of the training delivery LIFEbeat are offering a bespoke consultancy for individual schools on how to embed and implement learning. Schools will also be offered a twice termly network meetings and a sharing of resources and practices moving forwards. LIFEbeat Youth Leadership Programme LIFEbeat organised a youth lead day in June on the theme of community and belonging. 17 young people from South Somerset and Mendip took part in creative workshops on the theme of community at Frome Town Council. The young people took part in song performances and poems on the day which will be incorporated into a film. The creative outputs will be showcased and shared with educational settings and children’s services in the autumn term.

Somerset Schools Wellbeing Survey In 2021/22 for the first time, the pupil wellbeing survey was designed and coordinated in house by the Public Health team in consultation with Education, Schools and Children’s Services. The survey provides a valuable insight into the lives of Somerset school aged children.  Almost 8500 Somerset children and young people in years 2, 4, 6 8 and 10 participated in the survey. Findings have shown that even after so much disruption, 34% of Year 2 children said they always felt happy while 65% of secondary children said they felt cheerful and in good spirits most of the time. There are many children who have struggled and continue to do so, but there are children who saw benefits from lockdown, including more time outdoors, more exercise and a better relationship with parents.  Somerset school staff were also invited to take part in an online staff wellbeing survey which are also available on our website. Both the pupil and staff wellbeing surveys can be found at: Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : New Home (cypsomersethealth.org)  A new wellbeing survey will be launched in the autumn term for schools and FE settings. To sign up your settings, please email: [email protected]

Wellbeing CPD Training for Somerset CYP Practitioners Public Health commissions a range of free face to face training programmes to support the development of a whole school approach. Courses for 2022/23 include: Supportive Staff training for Tuning into Kids or Teens (parenting programme) practitioners Mental Health Youth First Aid Suicide alertness & awareness online courses Compassionate Mindful Resilience (CMR) to support staff wellbeing LIFEbeat Relationships Sex and Health Education (RSHE) Curriculum Training with a focus on Mental Health, Diversity, Bereavement and loss and transition LIFEbeat Arts and Wellbeing CPD training for teaching and support staff Self Harm Awareness Training Emotion Coaching – improving emotional literacy and vocabulary for school communities To book a place on one of our courses, sign up here: Somerset children & young people : Health & Wellbeing : Training Menu (cypsomersethealth.org) The CYP team have also developed a series of E-learning trainings for settings to enable them to promote positive wellbeing. These are available at: Somerset Wellbeing Framework Training And Elearning

CONGRATULATIONS Our sincere congratulations and thanks go out to the following schools for their continued hard work and support of their school community to embed a whole school approach to Wellbeing. These schools have achieved and been awarded with the following certificates – very well done! School Certificate (s) awarded Chilthorne Domer Church School Sense of Belonging Danesfield C of E Middle School Sense of Belonging Milford Infants Sense of Belonging Milford Juniors Sense of Belonging Preston C of E School Sense of Belonging Stoberry Park School Sense of Belonging The Taunton Academy Sense of Belonging Promoting Positive Relationships Westfield Academy Sense of Belonging West Pennard C of E Primary School Sense of Belonging Promoting Positive Relationships Bishop Fox's Academy Promoting Positive Relationships Huish Primary Promoting Positive Relationships Priddy & St Lawrence Primary Schools Promoting Positive Relationships Somerset Bridge Primary School Promoting Positive Relationships Nether Stowey Primary School Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Selwood Academy Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Weston Zoyland Primary School Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Hamp Academy Engagement Certificate

As we come to the close of this academic year, we extend our gratitude to all the Head Teachers, Senior Leaders, Teaching and all School Support Staff, Children and Young People Practitioners, Volunteers and Young People across Somerset. We wish you a restful and peaceful summer. Somerset County Council County Hall Taunton Somerset TA1 4DY www.cypsomersethealth.org