At Norton Juxta Kempsey CE Primary School, a new outdoor wellbeing space is helping students pause, reflect, move and create.
Alongside a newly installed dome structure, the school has used funding from a Worcestershire County Council Public Health grant to introduce a range of creative and physical resources that support pupil wellbeing outside of the formal curriculum.
Children can take part in simple, screen‑free activities including music, movement, storytelling and art, all designed to support attention, emotional regulation and physical development in a calm and consistent environment.
While the dome itself has transformed the look and feel of the outdoor space, staff are clear that it is what happens inside that matters most.
Sarah Marshall, Deputy Headteacher, said: “The dome looks spectacular but it is what’s going on inside that really is having an impact on pupils’ wellbeing.”
Children have responded positively to the space, describing how it helps them feel more settled and comfortable.
One student said: “I love sitting in the dome, watching the clouds and listening to the birds. It makes me calm.”
The resources purchased are designed to be used again and again, and staff have been supported to confidently deliver sessions as part of the school’s ongoing wellbeing offer. As schools continue to look at how best to support pupil wellbeing, this kind of simple, sustainable approach shows how creating the right environment and routines can make a lasting difference.
If you’d like to explore how a Public Health Community Wellbeing Grant could support wellbeing in your educational setting, visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitygrants