Building resilience
and mental wellbeing for children and young people

Universal / Whole School Approach 

"Supporting a Whole School, trauma informed, relational approach to wellbeing that is 'Everybody's Business'"

A Universal / Whole School Approach to emotional wellbeing is an effective, evidenced based way of boosting wellbeing across the whole school community as well as contributing to belonging / inclusion and attendance and attainment. 

Research shows that when schools adopt a multi-component approach they are more effective in promoting social, emotional health and mental wellbeing. A whole school approach involves pupils, staff, parents and the community as well as outside agencies in addressing emotional wellbeing and mental health issues.

What is a Whole School Approach? 

A WSA  recognises that all aspects of the school community can impact upon students’ learning and mental health and that they are inextricably linked.

A WSA is an integrated school systems approach - beyond programmes

An Approach...  Not a specific programme or a linear pathway but something that individual schools can work with to meet specific needs and starting points.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can"

There are a number of 'models' but the most effective are underpinned by the Eight Principles set out in the Public Health England: "Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing: a whole school and college approach". (The PHE principles for the basis of the DfE support / training for Senior Mental Health Leads and a key part of the support offered to (primary) schools by the Mental Health in Schools Teams

The PHE Eight Principles of a Whole School Approach

#1

Leadership and management that supports and champions efforts to promote emotional health and wellbeing

more

Leadership and management that supports and champions efforts to promote emotional health and wellbeing

more

#2

An ethos and environment that promotes respect and values diversity

more

An ethos and environment that promotes respect and values diversity

more

#3

Curriculum, teaching and learning to promote resilience and support social and emotional learning

more

Curriculum, teaching and learning to promote resilience and support social and emotional learning

more

#4

Enabling student voice to influence decisions

more

Enabling student voice to influence decisions

more

#5

Staff development to support their own wellbeing and that of students

more

Staff development to support their own wellbeing and that of students

more

#6

Identify need and monitoring impact of interventions

more

Identify need and monitoring impact of interventions

more

#7

Working with parents/carers

more

Working with parents/carers

more

#8

Targeted support and appropriate referral

more

Targeted support and appropriate referral

more

 DfE / Ofsted / MH Leads in Schools

The Department of Education (DfE) and Ofsted recognise that the whole school approach will help pupils succeed, as the approach supports them to become resilient and mentally healthy and will be effective in improving long term outcomes for children and young people. The current Ofsted Framework (Sept '21) draws on the PHE Whole School Approach and the DfE funded MH Leads Training is centred on the 8 Principles.

Nice Guidance

Similarly the NICE guideline [NG223] Published: Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education identifies a universal Whole School Approach as effective and evidence-based.

 More about a Whole School Approach

Interactive WSA Resource

To support schools to develop a WSA that suits the needs of your individual school we are working on an interactive resource. The resource will include simple self-reflection tools. Information areas supporting each of the 8 principles and more. If you click on the model below you'll be taken to appropriate sections on the site. The resource is currently a work in progress so we welcome wishlists and feedback.

WSA self-reflection



Page last updated: 27 December 2023

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