Wellbeing at Maesgwyn has grown considerably over the last ten years. All staff are trained in trauma-informed approaches, and we are an officially recognised Trauma and Mental Health Informed School (TISUK).
We know life isn’t always perfect. Things can happen in a young person’s life that throw them off balance and make it hard to regulate. We support pupils with trauma-informed approaches: helping them identify their feelings and giving them time to explore self-regulation strategies, in an empathic and non-judgemental environment.
Our relationship policy
We recognise that behaviour is a communication of emotion, so we replaced our behaviour policy with a relationship policy built on four ideas.
Protect
Keeping every pupil safe, physically and emotionally. Adults spot triggers early and step in before things escalate.
Regulate
Behaviour is communication. Pupils learn to name their feelings and are given time and space to try self-regulation strategies.
Reflect
Once calm, pupils look back on what happened with an adult they trust, and plan what might help next time.
Relationships
The foundation of everything. Every pupil has emotionally available adults who always have time to talk.
How we help
- Every pupil can work with our wellbeing team, and has access to an emotionally available adult who always has time to talk.
- ELSA, Forest School, play, animal care, Relax Kids, nurture group and Check-In-Check-Out.
- Eye to Eye counselling for when things are tough.
- R&R (Reset & Reflect): one-to-one support using the strategy that suits the young person, such as quiet time, reflection or calming techniques.
- Daily regulation time and reflection time, a sensory room, visual timetables and social stories.
- Weekly reward sessions and celebration assemblies.
- Support from partner agencies, including educational psychology, youth engagement and participation, attendance and wellbeing, and the disabled children’s team.
The wellbeing team
Led by Mrs Kayleigh Dando, the team includes Miss Marshman, Miss Samuel, Miss Selwyn, Mrs Bowen, Miss Owens, Mr Richards and Mr Jones.