Personal Development and Wellbeing
At Great Kimble, we believe that every child should feel nurtured, valued, and loved. Personal development and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. We know that children learn best when they feel happy, safe, and supported, so we create an environment where every pupil can achieve, thrive, and belong.
Through our rich curriculum, wide range of experiences, and strong pastoral care, we help children build confidence, resilience, and a genuine love of learning. We celebrate individuality and encourage our pupils to be kind, curious, and ambitious — ready to take their next steps with self-belief and joy.
At Great Kimble, we don’t just educate minds — we nurture hearts and help every child become the very best version of themselves.
We are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff, and wider community. We know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional emotional support. Positive mental health is everybody’s business, and we all have a role to play.
At Great Kimble we:
- help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
- help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
- help children socially to form and maintain relationships
- promote self esteem and ensure children know that they count
- encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
- help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
- ensure pupils know how to keep themselves safe
- provide opportunities to grow as a whole child
- teach about British Values
Support
Children have access to the following:
- Nurture groups or 1:1
- Lego Therapy
- Zones of regulation
- We are an ADHD friendly school
- Wellbeing Warriors
- Safe and trusted adults
- Young Carers
- Online safety lessons
- NSPCC links
- Afternoon brain breaks
- exciting news - we are about to begin our Therapy Dog Accreditation with PAWS
Exposure to opportunities to develop as a whole child
- Great trips once a term
- Residential every other year for year 5/6
- Stem Days
- House Afternoons
- Discos
- Movie Nights
- Break the Rules Day
- Talent show
- Rock Steady School
- School Bank
- Sphero robots and micro bits
- Swimming
- Football team
Leadership Opportunities:
Toy shed monitors
Lunch time support
Digital leaders
Librarians
Agents 4 Change
Celebrating the child
- Fruits of the spirit chosen every week
- posted in the newsletter
- Share achievements from outside of school
- Wow work display
- Headteacher awards
- Kimble Stars
Zones of Regulation
At Great Kimble C of E School, we use The Zones of Regulation across the school to support our pupils emotional wellbeing. The Zones of Regulation framework teaches children scaffolded skills towards developing a metacognitive pathway to build awareness of their feelings/internal state and utilise a variety of tools and strategies for regulation, prosocial skills, self-care, and overall wellness. This includes exploring tools and strategies for mindfulness, sensory integration, movement, thinking strategies, wellness, and healthy connection with others. The Zones of Regulation provide a common language and compassionate framework to support positive mental health and skill development for all, while serving as an inclusion strategy for neurodiverse learners, those who have experienced trauma, and/or have specific needs in terms of social, emotional, and behavioural development.
The Zones of Regulation create a systematic approach to teach regulation by categorising all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete coloured zones. Integrating in cognitive behaviour therapy, students build skills in emotional and sensory regulation, executive functioning, and social cognition. The framework is designed to help move students towards more independent regulation while also honouring and respecting each student and their unique self.
THE FOUR ZONES: OUR FEELINGS & STATES DETERMINE OUR ZONE
The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone.
The Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions, however one has more control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.
The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.
The Zones can be compared to traffic signs. When given a green light or in the Green Zone, one is “good to go”. A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the Yellow Zone. A red light or stop sign means stop, and when one is the Red Zone this often is the case. The Blue Zone can be compared to the rest area signs where one goes to rest or re-energize. All of the zones are natural to experience, but the framework focuses on teaching students how to recognise and manage their Zone based on the environment and its demands and the people around them.
Below you will find a variety of other resources that you and your children may find helpful.
This link will take you to a link to get in touch with Walking With You.
Walking With You is a parent led support group for anyone supporting children and young people, up to the age of 25, experiencing mental health difficulties.