Health and Wellbeing
Wellbeing at St Stephen's
At St Stephen’s, the physical and mental health of our children is our primary focus. We believe that happy, secure children are the ones best placed to learn and thrive. Wellbeing is central to our school ethos, ensuring every child feels they belong and develops the emotional resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges.
Growing Emotional Resilience
We view emotional development as an essential part of the learning journey. We proactively help children build the tools they need to navigate the natural ups and downs of growing up. Our team is experienced in partnering with families to foster:
Confidence and Calm: Teaching strategies to manage everyday worries and approach new situations with a sense of security.
Growing Independence: Supporting children as they build the bravery to transition into the school day and explore new environments.
A Growth Mindset: Nurturing self-esteem by helping children see mistakes as opportunities and build a strong sense of self-belief.
Positive Social Connections: Guiding children through the nuances of friendship, helping them develop empathy, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
Emotional Literacy: Equipping children with the language and tools to understand, express, and regulate their feelings effectively.
Stability During Change: Providing a consistent, compassionate environment for children navigating significant life transitions, including family separation or changes in home dynamics.
Support Through Loss: Offering a gentle, structured space for children to process bereavement and grief at their own pace.
Healthy Habits: Promoting the importance of restorative sleep and physical wellbeing as the foundation for emotional balance.
Communicating with us early allows us to wrap support around your child quickly. We are here to listen, and we have likely helped a family through a similar journey before.
How We Support Your Child
Wellbeing is built into the fabric of our school life through a proactive approach to emotional health:
The Zones of Regulation: A school-wide framework that gives children a shared language to identify their internal states and select the best tools to stay focused and calm.
Targeted Coaching and Mentoring: We offer one-to-one sessions with wellbeing-trained staff and small social skills groups to help children build confidence.
Specialist Partnerships: We work closely with the Mental Health Support Team and Richmond Children’s Wellbeing Service for targeted early intervention.
Weekly Newsletter: Each week, our newsletter features a dedicated wellbeing section with practical recommendations and strategies to try at home.
Annual Wellbeing Week: A special week each year where the whole school community focuses on activities designed to boost mental health, mindfulness, and physical activity.
We Are Here to Listen
If you have a concern about your child’s happiness or mental health, please reach out. We encourage an open dialogue and want to ensure no parent feels they have to manage these concerns alone.
Your points of contact are:
Your Child’s Class Teacher: For day-to-day observations and initial worries.
The Phase Leader: For more complex situations or ongoing support.
Our Inclusion Lead, Mrs Mulholland: Always available to talk through any challenges you, your child, or your family may be facing.
Expanding Your Support Network
If you need immediate advice or are concerned about a child’s safety outside of school hours, these trusted organisations provide excellent guidance for building a safe and happy home environment:
Richmond Single Point of Access (SPA): 020 8547 5008 (8am–5.15pm) | Out of Hours: 020 8770 5000
NSPCC: Support for adults concerned about a child or looking for proactive parenting advice.
YoungMinds: Resources and parent-specific guides on fostering resilience and mental health in young people.
A collection of specific guides and toolkits are available to download at the bottom of this page.
Winchester Road,