Welcome to our guest blog spot ahead of the summer holidays, Knowles Primary School.

We are the pupil Wellbeing Ambassadors at Knowles Primary School in Bletchley. At our school, our motto is ‘growing hearts and minds together to build a successful future for all’. We are proud to be a kind, welcoming and inclusive school where everyone is valued for who they are. In our school, pupil voice is really important, which is why our team is a key part of the 'Together Everyone Decides' (TED) Team.

Our TED Team is our pupil leadership group. Children from across the school come together to share ideas and make decisions about our learning, our schools and our community. We believe looking after our mental health isn’t just something for adults. It’s something we can all do every day.

To make sure everyone in our school feels safe, happy, and ready to learn, we help everyone learn about the Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. We have even taken our ideas beyond the school gates by creating our own Five Ways to Wellbeing at Home postcards for families. Our local Family Centre now shares these so families can practise wellbeing together.

Bringing Wellbeing into the Classroom
We don’t just sit in meetings - we make things happen. Every half term, we stand up in front of the whole school to lead our own Wellbeing Assemblies. We use these assemblies to break down big ideas about mental health and our school values into simple, friendly conversations.

We also help teachers plan fun classroom activities linked to the Five Ways of Wellbeing. Here is how we live out the Five Ways every single day at Knowles:

1. Connect
   Spending time with other people helps us feel connected. We encourage everyone to spend time with friends and the people they care about during playtimes and lunchtimes. In lessons, we share ideas, work closely with partners or in groups, and use Makaton so everyone can join in and communicate.
   
   

   We also know that connection means knowing who to turn to, which is why we always encourage peers to talk to a trusted adult. From school performances and community events to our weekly enrichment sessions and TED team projects, we are constantly finding ways to bring people together.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Be Active
   Moving our bodies helps our minds feel healthy too. At Knowles, being active is woven into our daily routines. We participate in:
   ● The Daily Mile and active breaks between lessons.
   ● Weekly PE lessons and swimming lessons.
   ● Outdoor learning through Forest Schools and exploring nature walks.
   ● Exciting extras like Bikeability training, school sports days, after-school clubs and overnight residentials.

   
   

3. Notice
   Taking time to slow down helps us notice how we’re feeling. We use our 'How are you feeling today?' toolboxes right in the classroom to help people notice, name and talk about our emotions. We use mindful breathing, colouring, visualisation and music to help us feel calm and ready to learn again.

   
   We also take notice of the world around us by spending time outside in nature, participating in PSHE lessons, and taking time to simply be thankful. One of our favourite ways to practice noticing is spending quiet, comforting time with our school Therapy Dogs.

   
   

4. Keep Learning
   Learning isn't just about getting things right. It’s about trying new things, being curious and never giving up.

   
   

   We keep our minds sharp through daily retrieval practice, researching brand-new topics, visiting the library and listening to inspiring stories. We love learning from our community visitors, participating in trips and visits, and exploring new hobbies during weekly enrichment and after-school clubs.

   
   

5. Give
   Helping other people makes our whole school a happier place. We encourage small, everyday acts of kindness like offering help, saying thank you, smiling at someone in the corridor and taking pride in our environment.

   
   We make sure to warmly welcome new children so no one ever feels left out. We love celebrating children who show our school values by earning value badges. As an ambassador team, we also lead fundraising campaigns, such as the YoungMinds #HelloYellow campaign, showing that when we combine our efforts, our small steps can make a massive difference.

   
   At Knowles Primary, the 5 Ways to Wellbeing aren't just words on a poster - they’re things we do every day. We look after each other, keep trying when things are difficult, stay active, notice the good things around us and always try to be kind. We know that small actions can make a big difference, and we’re proud of that, as Wellbeing Ambassadors, we can help make our school a happy, healthy place where everyone belongs.

   
   

   We hope other schools will be inspired to try some of our ideas too, because every child deserves to feel happy, safe and supported.