Wellbeing Curriculum
The Wellbeing School Programme
At Banks Road Primary School, we believe that children learn best when they feel safe, understood and emotionally secure. Our school motto, “We Can Do It!”, reflects our commitment to developing confident, resilient learners who believe in themselves and in one another.
Wellbeing is not an add‑on at Banks Road – it is a foundation for learning, inclusion and belonging. As part of our whole‑school approach to supporting children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing, we use The Wellbeing School programme from Year 1 through to Year 6.
What Is the Wellbeing School?
The Wellbeing School is a research‑informed, whole‑school wellbeing curriculum designed specifically for primary‑aged children. It supports pupils to develop emotional literacy by helping them to:
Recognise and name a wide range of emotions
Understand why they feel the way they do
Learn healthy ways to manage emotions
Build positive, respectful relationships
The programme includes:
Structured lesson plans
Illustrated pupil workbooks
Engaging, age‑appropriate animations
Practical activities that encourage reflection and discussion
Language is central to the programme. By giving children the words to describe their emotions, we help them to understand themselves better, communicate effectively with others and seek support when they need it.
Why Wellbeing Matters at Banks Road
At Banks Road Primary School, we know that wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. Children cannot achieve their best academically if they are feeling anxious, overwhelmed or disconnected.
Our work in wellbeing is rooted in our school values:
Respect – understanding our own feelings and the feelings of others
Friendship – developing strong, healthy relationships
Determination – building resilience and perseverance
Trust – fostering a safe environment where children feel confident to talk
Positivity – promoting a calm, hopeful and supportive mindset
The Wellbeing School supports pupils to live out these values every day, helping them apply emotional understanding to real‑life situations both in and beyond the classroom.
Research‑Informed and Evidence‑Based
The Wellbeing School is a research‑informed programme, developed using insights from leading wellbeing research, including work associated with Yale University. This ensures that our approach reflects best practice in supporting emotional development, resilience and positive mental health.
National and international research shows that whole‑school approaches to wellbeing are most effective when emotional literacy is taught consistently and embedded across school life. By adopting a structured, progressive programme, we ensure our wellbeing provision is purposeful, coherent and sustainable.
A Whole‑School Approach
Wellbeing at Banks Road is not taught in isolation. Instead, it is woven through school life, ensuring consistency and shared understanding for children and staff.
This means:
A clear progression in emotional learning from Year 1 to Year 6
Shared language and concepts used by all staff
Wellbeing embedded into daily routines, assemblies and PSHE
A nurturing, inclusive school culture where children feel safe and valued
This approach supports not only pupils’ wellbeing, but also positive relationships across the whole school community.
Supporting Both Pupils and Staff
At Banks Road Primary School, we recognise that a positive culture depends on the wellbeing of both pupils and staff.
The Wellbeing School supports this by:
Strengthening relationships between pupils, staff and families
Supporting consistency and confidence in staff practice
Embedding wellbeing into everyday school routines
Helping to create a calm, supportive and inclusive learning environment
By prioritising wellbeing at every level, we promote a culture where everyone can thrive.
What Children Learn
Through the Wellbeing School programme, pupils at Banks Road learn to:
Identify and name their emotions
Understand the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour
Develop empathy and kindness towards others
Manage worries, friendships and change
Feel confident talking to trusted adults
These skills support children to become emotionally literate, self‑aware and respectful members of our school community.
Inclusion and Early Help
Banks Road Primary School is proud of its strong inclusive ethos and its status as an IQM Centre of Excellence.
The Wellbeing School supports inclusion by:
Helping children communicate how they feel
Supporting early identification of emotional needs
Reducing barriers for pupils with SEND or communication difficulties
Promoting understanding and regulation rather than punitive behaviour approaches
This ensures that support can be put in place early, helping every child feel understood and supported.
Preparing Children for Life Beyond Banks Road
Our aim is not only to support children during their time with us, but to equip them with skills they will carry throughout their lives.
By developing emotional understanding, resilience and positive relationships, we help children to:
Navigate challenges with confidence
Build healthy friendships
Believe in themselves and their ability to succeed
At Banks Road Primary School, wellbeing is a foundation for learning, inclusion and lifelong success.