Well being for our pupils

At The Arches, the wellbeing of our pupils is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to take a trauma-informed approach, recognising that children’s experiences can have a significant impact on their learning, behaviour and relationships. Visitors to our school regularly comment on the calm atmosphere and the high levels of engagement demonstrated by our pupils. We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, understood and supported.

We recognise the importance of developing pupils’ emotional literacy and helping them understand and manage their feelings. In September 2026, we introduced the Zones of Regulation across the school as part of our wellbeing curriculum. This empowers children to identify their emotions, understand how they are feeling and use appropriate strategies to regulate themselves and remain ready to learn.

We also understand that some children may experience additional emotional challenges or difficult periods in their lives. To support these pupils, we offer a range of targeted wellbeing interventions, including Art Therapy, Platform for Life Play Therapy, ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and Nurture Sessions. Each term, our dedicated Wellbeing Team, consisting of the Headteacher, SENCo, Family Support and Attendance Lead, Nurture Practitioner and ELSA, meets to review pupils’ needs and ensure that appropriate wellbeing support is identified and provided where required.

Through this proactive and nurturing approach, we aim to ensure that every child feels valued, supported and able to achieve their full potential.