At Graven Hill Primary and Preschool, the wellbeing of our children is at the heart of everything we do. From age 2 to 11, we work to ensure that every child feels safe, known, valued and supported—because children thrive academically only when they thrive emotionally. Our pastoral system is deliberately designed to nurture secure relationships, build confidence and resilience, and ensure that all children experience a strong sense of belonging within our community.

Our approach reflects the ethos expressed across our school: that children deserve an education which supports them academically, socially and emotionally, and that strong relationships with trusted adults are central to their success.

What Wellbeing Looks Like at Graven Hill

Our wellbeing and pastoral support builds on best research, national guidance and our own monitoring of pupil experience. We focus on:

Strong, Nurturing Relationships

Research and the updated national inspection framework highlight that belonging, connection and culture are crucial in shaping pupils’ attitudes to learning and attendance.
We intentionally invest in warm relationships between children and adults because these relationships form the bedrock of emotional security, behaviour and engagement.

Safe, Inclusive and Emotionally Intelligent Classrooms

Our curriculum and classroom practice prioritise emotional development, confidence, communication and independence—from the earliest days in Preschool.
Children are supported to understand their feelings, build relationships with others, and develop the resilience they need to face challenges.

A Community Where Every Child Has a Champion

As described in our school ethos, Graven Hill is a place where “everyone has a champion”—someone who insists they can be the best they can possibly be.
This belief shapes our daily interactions, pastoral systems and staff training.

Early Identification and Early Support

Current government guidance places significant emphasis on identifying barriers early and understanding the reasons behind a child’s difficulties—whether academic, emotional or attendance‑related.
Our approach is proactive, not reactive: we spot concerns early and work with families to put support in place quickly.

Embedding Belonging

National research shows that attendance, engagement and achievement are strongly linked to children feeling that they belong in school.
Everything we do—from morning routines to curriculum design—aims to help children feel part of something bigger.

A Whole‑School Commitment to Wellbeing

Wellbeing at Graven Hill is not the job of one person or one team; it is woven into our curriculum, our relationships, our expectations and our daily routines. Our school environment has been purposely designed to support children’s wellbeing, with high‑quality learning spaces, outdoor areas and a culture that values emotional development as much as academic growth.

We work closely with families because we know that children thrive most when school and home are aligned, supportive and united. The strength of our partnerships ensures that children’s needs are understood and met holistically.

Why We Believe Our Wellbeing Provision Is Exceptional

Our internal monitoring and evaluation give us confidence that our pastoral and wellbeing provision is exceptional. We see this every day in:

• the emotional maturity and kindness of our children
• their confidence to take risks in learning
• the secure attachments they form with trusted adults
• their positive attitudes to school
• the meaningful contributions they make to our community

Our staff team are deeply committed to nurturing not only successful learners, but happy, confident, compassionate young people who understand themselves, value others and feel proud to be part of Graven Hill.