Personal Development and Wellbeing

At Kielder Primary School and Nursery, personal development and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to nurturing confident, resilient, kind and aspirational learners who are well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Our approach is underpinned by the Thrive and Excel @ Kielder framework, which provides a clear, progressive structure for developing pupils across six interconnected domains:

  • Academic

  • Metacognition

  • Communication

  • Service

  • Wellbeing

  • Innovation

These domains are woven through our curriculum, wider school life and everyday interactions, ensuring that personal development is not an ‘add-on’, but an integral part of each child’s journey.

Wellbeing and Emotional Development

We place a strong emphasis on pupils’ mental and emotional well-being. Children are taught to recognise and manage their emotions, develop positive relationships and build resilience. Through age-appropriate PSHE, mindfulness activities, outdoor learning and regular opportunities to talk and reflect, pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, healthy and emotionally well.

Our small-school environment allows us to know every child well. Staff provide timely support and high-quality pastoral care, ensuring pupils feel safe, listened to and valued. As a result, pupils are happy, confident and ready to learn.

Character, Values and Social Responsibility

Through our Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework, especially the Service and Wellbeing domains, pupils learn the importance of kindness, respect, responsibility and teamwork. Children are encouraged to contribute positively to their school and wider community, developing empathy and a strong moral compass.

Pupils regularly take on leadership roles and responsibilities, learning how to work collaboratively, listen to others and make a difference. They develop a secure understanding of right and wrong and show respect for people who are different from themselves.

British Values and Life in Modern Britain

British values are actively promoted across the curriculum and through school life. Pupils develop a secure understanding of:

  • Democracy

  • The rule of law

  • Individual liberty

  • Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

Through assemblies, PSHE, RE , our weekly Living British Values programme and real-life experiences, children learn how these values underpin life in Britain today. They are taught to use their oracy skills to express their views respectfully, understand different perspectives and appreciate diversity.

Healthy Lifestyles and Safety

We teach pupils how to make healthy choices, both physically and mentally. This includes learning about nutrition, physical activity, online safety and personal safety. Children are supported to develop healthy habits and an understanding of how to look after themselves and others.

Online safety is taught progressively and reinforced regularly, ensuring pupils know how to stay safe in the digital world and where to seek help if they are worried.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

We offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities that support pupils’ personal development, including educational visits, outdoor and adventurous learning, creative experiences and links with the local community and beyond. These experiences broaden pupils’ horizons, build confidence and inspire curiosity and ambition.

Preparing Pupils for the Next Stage

Through the Metacognition and Innovation strands of our Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework, pupils are encouraged to reflect on their learning, set goals and develop independence. They learn how to persevere, solve problems and embrace new challenges.

As a result, pupils leave Kielder Primary School and Nursery as well-rounded individuals who are ready for the next stage of their education and equipped with the skills, values and attitudes they need to thrive.