Within our school we have a strong emphasis on nurturing and developing the social, emotional and mental health needs of our pupils. We have used our connections to nature to help our pupils understand more about themselves, others, nature and how they connect to both the physical and social environments around them. Pupils engage in activities linked to their individual needs and to their academic progress, with the aim of promoting engagement with their education.
Trees are an important part of our school grounds and are a symbol for protecting the environment (we have discussed the effects of deforestation in school). By developing a pupil’s understanding for why we should care for trees and how, they will develop a more holistic understanding for caring for the environment as whole and, ultimately, why they should also care for themselves and their peers as part of their environment.