wellbeing

Wellbeing at Mansfield Primary School

At Mansfield Primary School, wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We want every child to feel safe, supported, and confident so they can thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Our wellbeing approach is driven by the belief that every child should be given the opportunity to:

Learn about their emotions and how to regulate them
Find the positives around them
Experience kindness
Practice strategies that enable them to flourish
Be true to themselves, just by being them.

This vision is strengthened by our school values:

Inclusion – Everyone is welcomed, valued, and given the chance to succeed.
Bravery – We encourage students to have a go, take positive risks, and learn from mistakes.
Kindness – We look after ourselves, care for others, and support our community.
Respect – We treat each other, our environment, and our learning spaces with care.

At Mansfield Primary School, we believe that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand.
By embedding our wellbeing lessons and school values into all aspects of school life – from the classroom to the yard and through our Outdoor Education program – we are fostering a culture where every student feels safe, supported, and inspired to thrive.
Our approach encourages children to be brave in their learning, kind in their actions, respectful towards others and inclusive in their friendships.
This balance of wellbeing and values helps students to build confidence, develop resilience, strengthen their relationships, and achieve their personal best – both at school and beyond.

Our Tiered Approach to Wellbeing and Learning at Mansfield Primary School

At Mansfield Primary School, we use a three-tiered approach to support the wellbeing and learning of all students. This ensures that every child receives the right level of care, guidance, and support at the right time.

Tier 1 – Whole School Approach (For all students)

Students complete a 'Ripple' check in every morning:

Ripple—Ripple gives students an easy way to check in and express their emotions, helping teachers quickly identify those who may need extra support. It encourages open conversations about mental health and builds emotional awareness in a positive, proactive way.
With Ripple, we can better understand the needs of our students and respond early—creating a more connected, caring, and inclusive school environment for every child.

Focus on creating safe, inclusive, and positive learning environments.

Classrooms offer quiet spaces and take an inclusive approach to learning. We have a sensory room, wellbeing space, gardening club, library, separate playground areas, music and art clubs.

Explicit teaching of our school values – Inclusion, Bravery, Kindness and Respect.
Weekly Wellbeing lessons incorporating our 3 main programs. Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships (RRRR), The Resilience Project & Identity Mind and Body.
Outdoor Education (School to Summit Program) puts our wellbeing in action: it takes the values and strategies taught in class and gives students the chance to practise them in authentic, real-world settings.
Whole school events, such as Bully No Way Day, Harmony Day, R U OK? Day, Do it for Dolly etc all help to promote resilience, respectful relationships, and engagement in learning.
Breakfast Club every Thursday: Students eat, dance and connect.
Weekly fruit platters delivered to each class to encourage healthy eating

The 5 pillars of our wellbeing program are......

Tier 2 – Targeted (For students who may need a little extra support)

Small group programs.
Regular check-ins with our Wellbeing staff.
Targeted interventions to build social skills, confidence, and emotional regulation.

Our Wellbeing team run two core programs with selected students BRAVE & SAS.

Close collaboration with families and classroom teachers to monitor progress.

Tier 3 – Individualised (For students that need Intensive Support)

Individualised plans developed in partnership with families, wellbeing staff, leadership, and external professionals where appropriate.
Tailored strategies to support mental health, behaviour, learning, and engagement.
A focus on building strengths and ensuring every student can participate and succeed.

Assisting Families with External Referrals
At times, families may benefit from additional support outside of the school environment. When this happens, we can help by linking families with trusted community services.
Process

Identify needs – Talk with the family about the type of support they may require (e.g., mental health, housing, parenting, financial stress, family violence, youth wellbeing).
Explain referral options – Share information about available services and what each one can provide.
Gain consent – Families must consent before we make a referral or share their information.
Make referral – Where possible, assist by making the first contact together (phone call or online form) to reduce barriers for the family.
Follow-up – Check in with the family to see if they were contacted and whether further support is required.