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Wellbeing has always been an important influence on the work of Rhŵs Primary School. However, in the current climate, it really is at the front and centre of everything they do. Children cannot thrive emotionally or academically when their mental health is holding them back and preventing them being the best version of themselves. Rhŵs Primary strives to provide support in the right places, through appropriate activities, to enable children to build resilience; form healthy connections with others; regulate their emotions; and ultimately reach their academic potential. Rhŵs Primary School is a beautiful listed building. However, this comes with its own challenges, most notably a lack of flexibility and space to allow the school to achieve their wellbeing aims leading to the need to move outside.
The children of Rhŵs Primary are fortunate to have a well developed intervention known as ‘Rhŵs Rangers’ where they are given the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities that focus on their wellbeing. The philosophies and practices behind this forest-school approach has led much of the Rhŵs Primary’s work with wellbeing and initiated the aim of creating a ‘Wellbeing Village’ that would include the following areas.
The Tipi: With the support of Covid-19 funding, we were able to provide an outdoor classroom to benefit more pupils and extend the type of activities undertaken. This has become somewhat of a feature in the Rhoose skyline and has benefited not only the children of the school but the local community as it is used with increasing frequency for village events, such as quizzes, community group meetings and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee street party.
The ‘Nurture Pod’: With the help of the Friends of Rhŵs Primary PTA group, the school opened the first of four specially converted shipping containers in September 2021. The ‘Nurture Pod’ provides a quiet, private space for children to undertake therapeutic activities in a gently stimulating environment where the school can work effectively with children dealing with trauma, grief, loss and attachment issues.
The ‘Nutrition Pod’: With the support of much appreciated project funds from Big Fresh Catering this second converted shipping container will hopefully be completed in June 2022 and will support the school’s goal of helping the children develop healthy bodies and minds. The ‘Nutrition Pod’ will provide a child-friendly kitchen where small groups of pupils will be able to prepare and cook food in a safe environment, learn about different food groups and how to create a balanced diet that includes everything we need to grow and stay healthy. Children will be encouraged to grow ingredients in our very own polytunnel so they can develop an understanding of where their food comes from. Additionally, we hope to team up with local businesses and invite chefs in for cooking workshops.
The ‘Construction Pod’: This will give children the opportunity to create a product from scratch and solve problems using real materials and tools, which (as witnessed in the forest school activities) leads to a real lift in self-esteem and resilience. This pod will be used regularly for various small group interventions as well as by all children for at least one curriculum project each year.
The ‘Bookbox’: With a range of exciting books to choose from and a calm, comfortable space to relax in, the Bookbox will aim to provide the children with an environment where they can get lost in a book and develop a real love of reading. This is something that is not currently possible without a school library at Rhŵs Primary.
The school’s aim is to have the Wellbeing Village up and running before the end of July 2023. They are extremely grateful to the FORP, parents, the local community and local organisations for their generous donations and support. However, there is still a long way to go to fund the remaining pods and we would be grateful for any donation you can make towards this goal. Rhŵs Primary School are also keen to reach out to local businesses for education partnerships for cooking, gardening, carpentry, book donations, etc. and would be delighted to hear from any interested parties. We want the new Wellbeing Village to extend Rhŵs Primary School’s standing as a school at the heart of its local community.
The children of Rhŵs Primary are fortunate to have a well developed intervention known as ‘Rhŵs Rangers’ where they are given the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities that focus on their wellbeing. The philosophies and practices behind this forest-school approach has led much of the Rhŵs Primary’s work with wellbeing and initiated the aim of creating a ‘Wellbeing Village’ that would include the following areas.
The Tipi: With the support of Covid-19 funding, we were able to provide an outdoor classroom to benefit more pupils and extend the type of activities undertaken. This has become somewhat of a feature in the Rhoose skyline and has benefited not only the children of the school but the local community as it is used with increasing frequency for village events, such as quizzes, community group meetings and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee street party.
The ‘Nurture Pod’: With the help of the Friends of Rhŵs Primary PTA group, the school opened the first of four specially converted shipping containers in September 2021. The ‘Nurture Pod’ provides a quiet, private space for children to undertake therapeutic activities in a gently stimulating environment where the school can work effectively with children dealing with trauma, grief, loss and attachment issues.
The ‘Nutrition Pod’: With the support of much appreciated project funds from Big Fresh Catering this second converted shipping container will hopefully be completed in June 2022 and will support the school’s goal of helping the children develop healthy bodies and minds. The ‘Nutrition Pod’ will provide a child-friendly kitchen where small groups of pupils will be able to prepare and cook food in a safe environment, learn about different food groups and how to create a balanced diet that includes everything we need to grow and stay healthy. Children will be encouraged to grow ingredients in our very own polytunnel so they can develop an understanding of where their food comes from. Additionally, we hope to team up with local businesses and invite chefs in for cooking workshops.
The ‘Construction Pod’: This will give children the opportunity to create a product from scratch and solve problems using real materials and tools, which (as witnessed in the forest school activities) leads to a real lift in self-esteem and resilience. This pod will be used regularly for various small group interventions as well as by all children for at least one curriculum project each year.
The ‘Bookbox’: With a range of exciting books to choose from and a calm, comfortable space to relax in, the Bookbox will aim to provide the children with an environment where they can get lost in a book and develop a real love of reading. This is something that is not currently possible without a school library at Rhŵs Primary.
The school’s aim is to have the Wellbeing Village up and running before the end of July 2023. They are extremely grateful to the FORP, parents, the local community and local organisations for their generous donations and support. However, there is still a long way to go to fund the remaining pods and we would be grateful for any donation you can make towards this goal. Rhŵs Primary School are also keen to reach out to local businesses for education partnerships for cooking, gardening, carpentry, book donations, etc. and would be delighted to hear from any interested parties. We want the new Wellbeing Village to extend Rhŵs Primary School’s standing as a school at the heart of its local community.