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Emotional Health and Wellbeing (EHWB)


How can EHWB enhance your school?

Working on EHWB in school supports staff and pupils in developing a positive, inclusive environment. This may be focusing on the positive behaviour management and rewards system in school or it may be working with creating happier healthier playtimes by training buddies and working with the Midday Supervisors. It is also about creating time and space in the curriculum for EHWB through exploring and understanding feelings and therefore increasing the capacity to learn. Using Active learning techniques and resources such as the DfES SEAL (Social Emotional Aspects of learning) within curriculum time can help to develop this emotional literacy.


EHWB and Healthy Schools

EHWB contributes significantly to all five Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic well being. EHWB promotes positive emotional health and well being to help children and young people to understand and express their feelings, and build their confidence and emotional resilience and therefore their capacity to learn. It also ensures that all staff are supported in their own emotional health and wellbeing in addition to equipping them with the resources and training needed to enable them to support pupils. 


Using Art to explore feelings – part of a Year 6 transition project. 


NHSS Criteria for EHWB
1. Identifies vulnerable individuals and groups and establishes appropriate strategies to support them and their families
2. Provides clear leadership to create and manage a positive environment which enhances emotional health and well-being in school – including the and rewards policies
3. Has clear, planned curriculum opportunities for children/young people to understand and explore feelings using appropriate learning and teaching styles
4. Has a confidential pastoral support system in place for children/young people and staff to access advice – especially at times of bereavement and other major life changes – and that this system actively works to combat stigma and discrimination

5. Has explicit values underpinning positive emotional health which are reflected in practice and work to combat stigma and discrimination
6. Has a clear  policy on bullying, which is owned, understood and implemented by the whole school community
7. Provides appropriate professional training for those in a pastoral role
8. Provides opportunities for children/young people to participate in school activities and responsibilities to build their confidence and self-esteem
9. Has a clear confidentiality policy  


Year 8 Hand Massage at Tibshelf Community School 


EHWB Section of the website includes:

  Criteria
Criteria and minimum evidence required to achieve NHSS, including links to Ofsted Self Evaluation Form. 
  Outcomes
Qualitative and quantitative outcome examples needed for the NHHS process.  
  Guidance
Documents and information related to the EHWB core theme, that schools may find useful. 
  Policies
Link to the policies section, providing guidance for creating policies. 
  Training
Link to the training section, outlining available training opportunities in Derbyshire and in school for staff and pupils. 
  Resources/Projects
Local and national resources or projects linked to the EHWB core theme.
Case Studies
Link to the case studies section, where Derbyshire Schools and the Health Promoting Schools team share projects and practice that have promoted health and wellbeing.
Related Initiatives
Local and national initiatives information, that contribute towards the EHWB core theme.
Web Links
Link to a list of useful external websites.