Devonshire House is shortlisted for the Independent Schools Of The Year Award of Student Wellbeing!
The ISOTY awards celebrate excellence and the exceptional commitment to delivering an outstanding learning experience for students.
Mental health and wellbeing are at the core of our curriculum. Our teachers dedicate their whole form time every day to speaking with children about any problems or concerns they have. They encourage debate and sharing.
Children from all age also have one hour of PHSE lesson per week and parents are invited to a Pastoral Parent Evening once a term to discuss, on a one-to-one basis, how their child is doing, not only academically but also mentally.
In the earlier years, starting with our Nursery, children participate in daily mindfulness activities such as breathing techniques, yoga poses and movement breaks, as well as enjoying the therapeutic benefits of nature in our outdoor learning areas. In the Nursery, we recently refurbished the playground transforming it into a sustainable and learning-through-play area. The imaginative pirate ship, the climbing area, sandpit, mud kitchen and gardening area help children to take autonomy in their learning experiences and grow healthily.
Our Lower School Campus also has a dedicated outdoor learning area that we call our Forest School. Spending time outdoors help children flourish through what they do, experience, explore and identify.
Our Senior Leadership Team also wanted to include Pastoral Care in children’s life outside of the classroom.
In 2022, we have started to collaborate with Place2Be. Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity providing mental health support in schools throughout the UK. Working with pupils, families and staff, they provide mental health support through one-to-one and group counselling as well as offering training and professional qualifications.
At Devonshire House, a mental health practitioner comes each week to have 1-to1 sessions with any pupils who would like to.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff members. That’s why in addition to regular and mandatory safeguarding training, our staff also get regular training from Place2Be professionals.
After achieving in 2020 the Wellbeing Award for Schools, we are looking forward to seeing the final results of this competition!
Interested in Devonshire House? Come and meet us at one of our Open Mornings and we will be happy to answer your questions.