Live Well
Live Well is a holistic approach to positive physical and mental well-being at South Wilts Grammar School.
Vision statement
Living Well is feeling good and strong in my mind and body, enjoying life and having fun, getting along with and helping others, knowing and regularly using my strengths, regularly feeling grateful, coping with the normal problems and disappointments of life, feeling proud of myself for doing my best and accepting that I am okay just as I am.
1. Learn well
Our state of well being can affect classroom learning and social interactions, both of which are critical to the success of students. Learn Well focuses on fostering effective habits of learning to develop academic resilience and fulfilment.
2. Eat well
Nutrition has long been identified as a critical component to learning and development at any age. Eat Well focuses on educating our students about balanced eating habits in order to live a healthy life.
3. Sleep well
Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on memory. It’s harder for a sleep-deprived brain to focus, so it’s harder for it to remember new things. It also reduces focus, organisation and can worsen mood. Sleep Well helps students to develop their sleep hygiene to improve their experience in school.
4. Think well
This is having a good view of yourself; for example: Seeing yourself as an attractive and desirable person. Having an image of yourself as a smart and intelligent person. Seeing a happy, healthy person when you look in the mirror. Think Well allows you to like and respect yourself while striving to improve. Your negative or positive self image is reflected in self-talk. If you criticize yourself, or automatically assume negative things, this damages your self image and contributes to low self-esteem.
5. Talk well
Oracy – the ability to speak well – is a core element of confidence in the classroom and self esteem. Talk Well is developing the physical, cognitive, linguistic and emotional knowledge and skills to communicate effectively and with integrity.
6. Move well
Research has shown that physical activity releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good – boosting your self-esteem, helping you concentrate as well as sleep, look and feel better. Move Well focuses on leading an active life which can help to improve your feelings of self-worth and foster confidence. Taking part in a form of physical activity that you really enjoy can give you a goal to aim for and a sense of purpose.
7. Connect well
All relationships that are healthy have the ability to contribute to our well-being. Healthy relationships contribute to our well being as we are appreciated and respected. Our best interests are important as we are encouraged to achieve our goals. Our relationship partners are also honest with us. Unhealthy relationships are detrimental to our well-being as we are always second guessing ourselves and our ability. If we are constantly put down by our relationship partners we start accepting what is being said about us as the truth. Connect Well is about understanding what makes a healthy and unhealthy relationship with peers, family and partners and developing the skills to foster a positive relationship.
8. Choose Well
We face many choices as we progress through life…who to be friends with….what is morally right and wrong…what to buy…where to work…whether to go to university. Choose Well focuses on giving students the tools and knowledge to make good choices that positively affect well-being both in school and beyond.
Tutor time has become ‘Start the day Well’
1. Assemblies – follow a Live Well calendar focusing on national and international priorities and well being themes.
2. Time To Talk – two half tutor groups join together to spend 30 minutes chatting to their tutor, fellow tutees and students from a different year group whilst playing games, completing puzzles and doing creative work. These activities encourage an openness between all those involved. Time to Talk provides the opportunity for older students to act in a mentoring capacity whilst younger students benefit from being able to articulate worries or to ask questions from someone who has been in their shoes. Year 7 joins Year 8; Year 9 joins Year 10. Year 11 time for study skills / revision skills.
3. Live Well weekly theme – a task or discussion focus will be provided to tutors that can be delivered by Live Well Ambassadors [Year 12 and 13] and tutors. Opportunity for 1:8 work or individual coaching. ‘Living Life to the Full’ programme (8 weeks) delivered by Live Well Ambassadors. Years 7 to 11 only – sixth form study skills.
4. Talk well – rota of student led presentations on news issue / ethical issue. For Years 7 and 8 this will rotate with an educational resilience programme delivered by tutors.
Student Leaders
- Live Well Ambassadors (Year 12)
- Deliver ‘Living Life to the Full’ programme in tutor time – The Living Life to the Full approach (LLTTF™) is one of the world’s most used ways of communicating a widely recommended type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT has been used for several decades, and research has led to it being one of the most recommended treatments for low mood and anxiety. It is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways of helping build well-being and resiliency.
- Key features include:
- Same 8 session course topics as the adult Living Life Course.
- Content, worksheets and booklets adapted based on young persons’ feedback.
- Content and support scripts highlight life worries and challenges relevant to teenagers and other young people.
- Artwork updated to suit this age group.
Course Topics
- Why do I feel so bad?– How to use the Five Areas Assessment.
- I can’t be bothered doing anything– Teaches behavioural activation to help increase activity.
- Why does everything always go wrong?– How to combat negative thoughts.
- I’m not good enough– How to overcome low confidence.
- How to fix almost everything– Problem solving for practical problems.
- The things you do that mess you up– Problem solving for unhelpful behaviours.
- 1, 2, 3 Breathe?– Taking Control of irritability and anger.
- 10 things you can do to help you feel happier straight away.
Parents
- Information evenings in school or on line to provide information and resources to parents to support their child to develop physical and mental health.
- Live Well bulletins provide advice and guidance including:
- Safeguarding – What should I be looking for?
- Helping your teen with low mood
- Understanding self harm
- Helping your teen with their self care
- Helping your child when they feel anxious