“Very valuable with lots of practical advice… motivated us as a team and helped us think differently about what wellbeing looks like in our school.”
— Delegate, St Swithun’s Prep School
Across the independent sector, schools are placing increasing emphasis on mental health and pupil wellbeing—but knowing how to respond effectively can be complex. Many interventions focus on raising awareness, yet do little to build real resilience or a lasting sense of belonging.
This workshop is designed for schools ready to take a strategic, inclusive and evidence-informed approach to pupil wellbeing—ensuring every child feels known, valued and supported to thrive.
INSET Aims
This practical and reflective course helps staff:
- Develop a shared understanding of what pupil wellbeing really involves (including hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing)
- Explore how small daily interactions across all school roles—from class teachers to site staff—can shape a culture of trust and emotional safety
- Learn how to notice hidden needs early, and respond through both proactive strategies and appropriate escalation
- Equip all staff to support resilience, independence, and emotional literacy as part of everyday teaching, pastoral care, and co-curricular life
INSET Outline
Understanding Pupil Wellbeing and the Wider Picture
- Breaking down the five DfE domains of wellbeing
- Clarifying the difference between short-term emotional experience (hedonic) and deeper development and identity (eudaimonic)
- Understanding risk, protective factors, and intersectionality in independent school contexts
Belonging, Trust and Whole-School Culture
- Exploring what belonging looks like in practice across school roles
- Using real examples to consider how adults can act as ‘orbiting advocates’—each holding a piece of a pupil’s wellbeing picture
- Linking feedback, expectation, and kindness to positive mental health
Pupil Wellbeing: Noticing and Responding Effectively
- Developing practical observation routines and consistent language across teams
- Ethical and age-appropriate use of wellbeing check-ins and tools like the Stirling Scale
- Understanding the balance between confidentiality, visibility, and collective responsibility
Action Planning and Sustained Impact
- Team reflection: What do we already do well? Where could we go further?
- Personal pledges and whole-school next steps
- Tools to evaluate impact and embed mental health into your wider school development plan
“Motivating and engaging… challenged our assumptions and encouraged a forward-looking team approach.”
— Feedback from session at St Swithun’s
100% of delegates rated the presenter as confident and knowledgeable
100% said the session was relevant to their school priorities
85% said it helped them think differently about wellbeing in their own setting
To enquire about running this INSET at your school, or to request a tailored version for your pastoral team or school leaders, contact:
📧 Email us at enquiries@jmcinset.com
✅ Whole staff training
✅ Phase-specific or role-specific options
✅ Can include coaching and follow-up consultancy on monitoring, EDI, or pastoral strategy
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