Wellbeing Support

Emotional Wellbeing at Cavendish Church of England Primary School

"We recognise that children learn best when they feel safe, understood and emotionally secure."

At Cavendish Church of England Primary School, nurturing children's emotional wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when children feel happy, safe and supported, they are better able to learn, build positive relationships and flourish.

Our approach to wellbeing is built around two complementary offers: a universal programme that benefits every child and targeted support for those who need additional help.

Universal Wellbeing Offer – myHappymind

We are proud to be a myHappymind school. Every child takes part in our weekly Flourish Friday sessions, where they learn about how their brain works, how to manage emotions, build resilience, develop positive relationships and adopt healthy habits for life.

The learning doesn't stop on Fridays. The principles of myHappymind are embedded throughout our school day and form part of our everyday practice. Children are encouraged to use a range of strategies and resources independently, including:

  • Breathing and calming techniques

  • Emotional regulation strategies

  • Lanyard queue cards to reduce anxiety

  • Accessible social stories available on iPads

  • Consistent language and routines used across the school

  • Daily opportunities to reflect, regulate and thrive

By embedding these approaches throughout the school, we help children develop lifelong habits that support both their emotional wellbeing and their learning.

Targeted Wellbeing Support – Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Some children benefit from additional emotional support at different points in their lives. Our trained, in-house Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), Mrs Martin, provides targeted interventions to help children develop the emotional skills they need to thrive.

ELSA sessions may support children with:

  • Recognising and understanding emotions

  • Building self-esteem and confidence

  • Developing social and communication skills

  • Strengthening friendships

  • Managing anger and strong feelings

  • Coping with loss and bereavement

  • Adjusting to family illness or separation

Support is carefully planned and tailored to each child's individual needs. Sessions take place in a safe, calm and nurturing environment where children are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings openly. The focus is on building a warm, trusting relationship while equipping children with practical strategies they can use independently in everyday life.

It is important to recognise that ELSA is not a counselling service and is not intended to "fix" problems. Instead, it provides early intervention and emotional support, helping children build resilience, develop healthy coping strategies and overcome barriers to learning.

Progress takes time and will vary depending on each child's circumstances. For children with more complex or long-term needs, ELSA support forms part of a wider package of care, working in partnership with families, school staff and, where appropriate, external professionals.

Helping Every Child Flourish

Together, our universal myHappymind provision and targeted ELSA support ensure that every child receives the right level of emotional support at the right time. By promoting positive mental health, building resilience and fostering a nurturing school environment, we aim to remove barriers to learning and enable every child to flourish academically, socially and personally.

Our ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and myHappymind lead is Mrs Martin.