Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Springfield CPS, we place a strong emphasis on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all our children. This dedicated section is here to introduce you to our fantastic team of staff and children who work together to create a caring, supportive environment throughout your child’s school journey.

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Don’t forget to join our Springfield CPS Facebook page, where we regularly share up-to-date information, local support services, community events, and helpful tips to support your family’s wellbeing.

Together, we are building a safe, happy, and resilient school community.

How We Support Mental Health and Wellbeing at Springfield CPS

At Springfield CPS, we are committed to building a nurturing, inclusive school environment where all children feel safe, respected, and ready to learn. We know that supporting a child’s emotional wellbeing is just as important as their academic progress.

Our approach includes a wide range of proactive, preventative, and responsive strategies:

At the start of each school day, we recognise how important it is for children to feel settled, calm, and emotionally prepared for learning. That’s why we use the principles of Jen Foster’s Good Morning Club as part of our approach to emotional regulation and pastoral care.

Good Morning Principles Inspired by Jen Foster

These principles include:

• Creating a calm, welcoming atmosphere in the morning
• Offering a gentle transition into the school day, especially for those who may find mornings difficult
• Providing access to quiet, purposeful activities such as mindfulness, colouring, reading, or soft conversation
• Building strong, positive relationships with trusted adults from the moment children arrive
• Supporting emotional regulation, so children feel safe and ready to learn

These practices are embedded across school—not just in one space, but throughout our classrooms, morning routines, and pastoral support.

Promoting Belonging and Positive Identity

• Embedding our core values across everything we do to foster a sense of belonging, kindness, and respect
• Celebrating academic, creative, and personal achievements to boost self-esteem and confidence
• Offering leadership roles, buddy systems, and responsibilities that help children feel valued and capable

Encouraging Pupil Voice and Active Participation

• Involving children in decisions through the school council, wellbeing ambassadors, and feedback opportunities
• Creating regular opportunities for children to express their views and influence school life

Developing Emotional Literacy and Resilience

• Teaching children to understand and manage their emotions through PSHE, Zones of Regulation, and daily check-ins
• Providing safe spaces to pause, reflect, and reset
• Encouraging resilience, problem-solving, and a growth mindset in all aspects of school life

Providing Personalised Support

• Offering 1:1 and small group pastoral support for children with social, emotional, or mental health needs
• Working with families and external professionals to provide early help or additional intervention
• Signposting families to helpful resources and services in the community

Embedding Wellbeing Across the Curriculum

• Ensuring wellbeing is a thread throughout our curriculum—in PSHE, PE, Forest School, and enrichment opportunities
• Promoting key themes such as kindness, inclusion, online safety, mental health awareness, and diversity

Well-being Ambassadors

Springfield’s Well-being Ambassadors

At Springfield CPS, we are proud to have a team of Well-being Ambassadors who help promote a happy, supportive, and inclusive environment across our school. These children play a key role in supporting their peers, raising awareness of mental health, and encouraging positive wellbeing every day.

What Makes a Great Well-being Ambassador?

Our Well-being Ambassadors are chosen for their strong personal qualities and dedication to supporting others. They must show:

• Positive communication skills, including active listening
• Reliability – others can count on them
• A strong sense of responsibility
• A naturally supportive and caring attitude
• The ability to empower and encourage others
• A motivating presence in school
• A non-judgemental and understanding approach
• A genuine interest in mental health and emotional wellbeing

Training in Brain-Based Wellbeing

Our Well-being Ambassadors receive age-appropriate training to help them understand how the brain works, especially in relation to emotions and behaviour. They learn about different parts of the brain using a fun, child-friendly model with animal characters:

🐶 Dexter the Dog – Amygdala
Head of Safety in the “downstairs brain” – helps us detect danger and stay safe

🐜 Audrey the Anteater – Reticular Formation
Head of Security – filters information and helps us stay alert

🦍 Gary the Gorilla – Limbic System
Head of Emotions – controls our feelings and emotional responses

🦉 Oswald the Owl – Prefrontal Cortex
Head of Wisdom in the “upstairs brain” – helps us make good decisions, solve problems, and think clearly

🐘 Elena the Elephant – Hippocampus
Head of Memories – helps us store and retrieve important learning and experiences

Understanding how these parts of the brain work allows our ambassadors to better support their peers in recognising emotions, managing behaviour, and using calming strategies.

Our Well-being Ambassadors are true champions of kindness, understanding, and positivity. They help make Springfield CPS a place where everyone feels supported, listened to, and valued.

Would you like to meet our current Well-being Ambassadors? Look out for their display in school or speak to a member of staff to find out more.