Well Being at Willowcroft

Magical Days out at Checkendon

As we all know, the mental health and wellbeing of our children is paramount to their education and their futures. So at Willowcroft we are working with the wonderful people who run the Inside Out program at Checkendon. 

What is Inside Out?

Inside Out is an innovative educational charity with a mission to improve the wellbeing of primary school children. They work across year groups but are currently working with our Year 4 children. The children are following the 5 Ways to Wellbeing – an evidence-based approach to improve wellbeing recommended by the UK government – Inside Out has made this relevant and engaging for children and their teachers with what we call the 5 Keys to Happiness. These are -

• Look inside
• Move outside
• Share more
• Be curious
• Be kind

The magic happens at Checkendon Equestrian Centre, a British Horse Society Approved Riding School, in the Oxfordshire countryside. The day is broken down into small chunks. The first part of the morning includes mindfulness activities that help children self-calm and accept their emotions. The second part of the morning the children spend outside in the woods exploring, discovering and creating. After lunch the children learn how to ride and care for horses.

The finale is a group celebration and reflection on their experience. 

Jigsaw - The mindful approach to PHSE

Jigsaw PSHE perfectly connects the pieces of Personal, Social and Health Education, emotional literacy, social skills and spiritual development into weekly lessons here at Willowcroft. 

Jigsaw is a unique, spiral, progressive and effective scheme of work, aiming to prepare children for life, helping them really know and value who they truly are and understand how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world. 

The 6 Jigsaw Puzzles (half-termly units) are designed so the whole school can study the same learning themes at the same time, each year group at its own level. The Puzzles are sequential and developmental throughout each academic year.

These pieces are - 

• Being me in my world
• Celebrating difference
• Dreams and goals
• Healthy me
• Relationships
• Changing me​​​​​​​

Mental Health

We are currently combining a list of websites that can help with additional help and advice. Please feel free to come and speak with our Pastoral Team if you would like any support or just a chat. 

https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/

https://www.didcottrain.org.uk/ 

https://www.boingboing.org.uk/