At Stapleford, the wellbeing of every child is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, understood and supported, and we work hard to create a caring environment where every child knows they matter.

Relationships are central to our approach. Our staff take the time to really get to know each child as an individual, ensuring that they feel listened to, valued and respected.

 

How we support children’s wellbeing

We have a range of supportive systems and approaches in place to ensure that children’s emotional wellbeing is carefully nurtured:

  • Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA)
    We have a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) who works with children identified by class teachers. These sessions provide a safe, supportive space for children to explore their feelings, build confidence and develop positive strategies to manage emotions.
  • Ella – our wellbeing dog
    Ella visits us every Thursday and is a much-loved part of our school community. She spends time in classrooms or with individual children for “Ella time”, helping to reduce anxiety, provide comfort and bring a sense of calm.
  • Daily wellbeing check-ins
    Each class completes a daily wellbeing check using a 5-point scale. This helps children recognise, understand and communicate their feelings, while enabling adults to respond quickly and thoughtfully when support is needed.
  • Calm and regulation spaces
    Every classroom has a calm area with carefully selected resources to support emotional regulation. These spaces help children to pause, reflect and use strategies to manage their feelings when they need to.

 

A proactive and caring approach

We are proud of our proactive approach to wellbeing. Systems such as ELSA support, daily emotional check-ins and opportunities like “Ella time” ensure that children are supported both in the moment and over time.

Our aim is for every child to feel confident, resilient and ready to learn—knowing that there is always a trusted adult who will listen and help.