Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Ysgol Bryn Alyn

At Ysgol Bryn Alyn, the wellbeing of our students is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that happy, healthy and supported learners are more likely to thrive both academically and personally. Our commitment to wellbeing is reflected in the wide range of support, interventions and opportunities available to all students.

A Whole-School Approach to Wellbeing

We are proud to be a trauma-informed school, recognising that life experiences can impact how young people feel, behave and learn. A trauma-informed approach helps us to understand and respond to students with empathy, compassion and appropriate support, ensuring that every learner feels safe, valued and understood.

Our staff receive training to support this approach, helping us to build positive relationships and create an environment where all young people can flourish.

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My Happy Mind

All Year 7 students take part in the My Happy Mind programme, an award-winning wellbeing curriculum designed to help young people understand how their brains work and develop positive habits for lifelong mental health.

The programme focuses on five key modules:

Meet Your Brain
Celebrate
Appreciate
Relate
Engage

Through these sessions, students develop resilience, self-esteem, confidence, emotional awareness and strategies for maintaining positive mental wellbeing.

Pastoral Support

We have a strong pastoral system designed to ensure that every student has access to support when they need it.

Students can access support through:

Their Form Tutor
Their Head of Year
The Pastoral Hub
The Senior Leadership Team
School-based intervention programmes

Our Heads of Year work closely with students, families and staff to ensure that appropriate support is available whenever concerns arise.

The Pastoral Hub

The Pastoral Hub provides a welcoming and supportive space for students who may need advice, guidance or additional support during the school day. The team works closely with students to help overcome barriers to learning and promote positive wellbeing.

Wellbeing Garden

Our dedicated Wellbeing Garden offers students a calm and relaxing outdoor environment during break and lunchtime.

The garden is supervised by our Youth Work in Education Team, who provide opportunities for students to talk, reflect, build relationships and access additional support in an informal setting.

The space is designed to promote:

Positive mental health
Relaxation and reflection
Social connection
Emotional wellbeing

Wellbeing Wednesdays

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have access to Wellbeing Wednesdays, which provide opportunities to focus on personal development, emotional health and wellbeing through a range of engaging activities and experiences.

These sessions support students in developing:

Resilience
Self-confidence
Positive relationships
Emotional literacy
Healthy coping strategies

ELSA Support

We have staff trained as ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) who provide targeted support for students experiencing emotional difficulties.

ELSA interventions can help students with:

Building self-esteem
Managing emotions
Developing friendships and social skills
Coping with anxiety or worries
Improving confidence and resilience

ELSA support is delivered in a safe and nurturing environment, helping students develop the skills they need to manage challenges successfully.

Working Together

Wellbeing is everyone's responsibility, and we believe that strong partnerships between school, students and families are essential. We encourage students to seek support whenever they need it and are committed to ensuring that every young person feels safe, supported and ready to achieve their potential.

*At Ysgol Bryn Alyn, we are committed to helping every learner thrive, not just academically, but emotionally, socially and personally too.