Nurture and Wellbeing at Clanfield Junior School

At Clanfield Junior School, every child is nurtured, valued, and deeply cared for. We place great importance on building trusting relationships and understanding what each child needs to be happy and successful in school.

Our Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher are trauma-informed trained and lead a relational approach across the school, supporting all staff to respond with empathy, consistency, and care. This approach helps every child feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.

Staff take great pride in creating a secure and welcoming environment where children experience a strong sense of belonging. We aim to meet each pupil’s needs within the classroom, supported by a wide range of strategies and resources (see our Classroom toolkit page for more details).

All class adults have access to ongoing professional development to strengthen their understanding of both academic and emotional needs. We have created a dedicated therapy room, providing a calm and supportive space for any child who may benefit from extra time and care.

Mental health lessons:

My Happy Mind

At Clanfield Junior School, we are proud to use My Happy Mind across all year groups. This exciting programme helps children to understand how their brains work and supports them in developing positive habits, confidence, and resilience — helping every child to be their very best self!

My Happy Mind is delivered by class teachers through a series of engaging and interactive lessons. Children then have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned throughout the day — whether that’s practising gratitude, showing kindness, or using calming strategies when things feel tricky.

To strengthen the link between school and home, My Happy Mind has also created a Parent App, which helps families understand what their children are learning. The app includes:

• Short explanations and resources to support conversations at home

• Fun activities and games to enjoy together

• A Kids Zone full of My Happy Mind-inspired challenges and ideas

You can find out more by watching this short introduction video:
🎥 My Happy Mind Parent App Introduction

To make it even easier to get started, a QR code can be found in your child’s homework book — simply scan it to access the app and begin exploring together!

Emotional support interventions

At Clanfield Junior School, we have developed a range of bespoke emotion-based interventions that help children recognise, name, and explore their feelings in a safe and supportive way. These sessions also introduce mindfulness strategies and teach children about how their brain works, empowering them to better understand and manage their emotions.

Our staff use a caring, relational approach to deliver these sessions, making sure every child feels heard, valued, and supported as they build positive emotional wellbeing.

ELSA Support

At Clanfield Junior School, we believe that trusted relationships and a sense of safety are key to helping children thrive. Support within the classroom, from familiar adults, is always our first approach when a child needs a little extra help with their emotions or wellbeing.

When children need a deeper level of support, our wonderful ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant), Mrs Moakes, is here to help. ELSA sessions give children time and space to talk about how they’re feeling, build confidence, and learn strategies to manage emotions such as anxiety, anger or sadness.

Sessions might include talking, games, art, or mindfulness activities — all designed to help children understand and express their emotions in a positive way.

Our ELSA works closely with teachers and families to make sure the support fits each child’s individual needs, helping them feel calm, confident, and ready to learn.

 

Specialist therapists

Therapeutic Support

We also offer sessions with specialist therapists every Monday and Thursday. These sessions provide targeted emotional and wellbeing support for children who may need a little extra help.

Where appropriate, we use a threshold system to allocate ring-fenced funds — this may include funding from an EHCP, Children’s Services, or other specialist routes — to ensure the right children receive this support.

Following feedback from our parent survey, we have extended this provision to include a small number of private spaces for families who wish to purchase a block of therapy sessions for their child. This ensures that more children can benefit from this valuable support when needed.

 

If you’re worried about your child’s mental health or emotional wellbeing, please talk to their class teacher first. They’ll listen and help you decide on the best next steps to support your child.

If you’re thinking about private therapy, you can contact the school office to find out more and check current availability. We’re always happy to help make sure every child gets the support they need.