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Wellbeing at Stepgates

Wellbeing is a huge priority at Stepgates Community School as we feel children need to be calm, focused and regulated, in order to learn and achieve their full potential.

Our Approach

As a result, we took part and continue to take part in the Compassionate Schools programme. All staff have been trained in Attachment and Trauma, and how to support our children who have needs in this area with all children using Zones of Regulation. We continue to work towards the Nurturing Schools Award through the National Nurturing Schools Programme. We are delighted to offer a short-term intervention for pupils with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties which make it harder for them to learn in a mainstream classroom.  ‘The Den’ nurture group is a school-based intervention run by two members of staff.  The aim is to replace missing early experiences by developing positive pupil relationships with both teachers and peers in a supportive environment.  Effective nurture group practice follows the six principles of nurture.  Our assessment tool, the Boxall Profile, determines which pupils would require to be in the nurture group based on their social, emotional and mental health needs.

Our children benefit from the use of our Rainbow Sensory room and our Sensory Circuit. We have two Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA) in school who work with a variety of children to help with their emotional needs, and we use Emotion coaching with our children. We have a Counsellor who works 1:1 with children and with groups of children, also offering a drop in for all children if need be. We have a school dog, Lolly, our Cavapoo, who is available for the children throughout the school day.

Alongside this, we have a Home School Link Worker, (please click here for further information) who works with our children in school and supports families who need help or advice.