Wellness The Watchword As Beehive Thrives

Children at Highfield and Brookham School are continuing to reap the rewards of their dedicated wellbeing hub.

The Beehive was opened officially last September as a place for pupils of all ages to “relax, reset and regulate their emotions whenever they need to” and is regularly used as part of the school’s continued commitment to top-level pastoral care.

Individual and group sessions are regularly held in the bright, snug and welcoming space as part of Highfield and Brookham’s wellbeing offering, including visits from wellness experts, to promote good mental health among the nursery, pre-prep and prep school’s pupils and staff.

This week, Year 5 children were treated to a visit from Chrissy Sundt Dolan, of Silver Linings Wellbeing, who worked with small groups to gently encourage the use of simple wellness techniques that the young learners can put into practice themselves whenever they feel the need.

With a big focus on breathing techniques, the children said they found the sessions “calming”, “refreshing” and “fun”.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham, said: “The health and wellbeing of our children is paramount and we take our responsibilities very seriously indeed. In a fast-moving world, taking time out to look after mental health is very important, a sentiment which applies to both adults and children.

“The Beehive is a wonderful addition to our pastoral care offering and the benefits to the children of having somewhere calm to stop, think and breathe is there for all to see and is really reflected in the classroom and beyond.”

And she added: “Not only are we lucky enough to have teachers and staff members who are wonderfully dedicated to all aspects of pastoral care and wellbeing, we also have wellness professionals among the parent body such as the excellent Chrissy who graciously give of their time to help the children.”

Highfield and Brookham was twice named an awards finalist in 2023 for its pastoral provision – in the ‘Student Wellbeing’ category of the Independent School of the Year Awards and in the ‘Raising Awareness’ category of the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education.