The Ashford Prep School Wellbeing Journal is a tool that our pupils can use to manage their feelings and emotions.
Wellbeing provision at the Prep School is something of which we have taken pride, especially in recent years. The current situation has not only allowed us to refine what we offer to children, parents and staff but the proactive nature of what we already provide has ensured we have supported our community whilst on the front foot.
Making ourselves take time out of our hectic weekly schedule is something that many of us find extremely difficult to do. How can we expect children to develop the self-discipline to do this when we so seldom set the example we expect them to follow?
At the Prep School, on top of our regular form times, assemblies and pastoral sessions, each child is given the last part of the day on a Friday afternoon to take stock of their week, share their successes and concerns with their form teacher and use their wellbeing journal to map how to become the best ‘me’ they possibly can.
Reflection can have a powerful and positive influence on our lives. The wellbeing journal that we have developed for the Prep School allows children to reflect upon the challenges and goals achieved in their week, identify feelings and plot how to make things even better next week.
In addition to the weekly reflection, there are numerous activities that allow children to escape the hustle and bustle of life, and work on the skills of resilience that will both put them in good stead for the next stage of their lives and enable them to live life to the full in the present.
Sage advice and tips throughout the journal from our Wellbeing Team supports children in taking responsibility for their own sleeping habits, developing skills to deal with anxiety and building up a toolkit of calm and relaxing activities. Giving the children these tools and the time in which to reflect, we ensure our children are mentally stronger, more adaptable and happier.