Feeling accepted, respected, included, and supported at school is important for children’s wellbeing and academic success
We all like to feel like we belong. A sense of belonging supports our physical and emotional wellbeing, helps us to manage stress and feel more resilient. When a child feels like they belong to the school they attend, they will feel accepted, respected, included and supported by others in the school environment. When children feel that they belong they are more likely to make progress in school and have good emotional wellbeing.
Ways to help your child feel they belong
There are a few ways in which your child’s sense of belonging within their school can be developed. You can support this by:
- helping them build a positive relationship with school staff such as speaking positively about staff members with your child, and finding common interests between them, for example, pointing out that you both enjoy a certain sport
- supporting your child to find a way to resolve friendship difficulties if they do arise
- supporting your child to develop positive friendships by showing an interest in their friendships, and asking how their friends are
- exploring clubs or extra-curricular activities that your child could take part in. If there are no clubs that interest your child, can you help them start a new one at the school that could also promote the sense of belonging of other children with similar interests?
- encourage your child to take on a role of responsibility within the school.
It will be particularly important to develop this sense of belonging if your child has been off school and their attendance difficulties are beginning to make them feel isolated. This is essential if your child has not been in school for a long time.
Working with school to help promote a sense of belonging
There are other ways that parent carers and schools can work together to support your child’s sense of belonging if they have been away from school including:
- good home and school links such as having regular email, video calls or telephone contact with a key member of staff.
- receiving updates about school events, such as assemblies, trips, performances or sports events can help your child feel connected to the school community.
- supporting your child to maintain friendships from school by encouraging them to meet friends after school or at weekends, as well as attending after school clubs or extra-curricular activities. Whilst children may find this difficult, this can prevent them from feeling isolated. You can speak to your school about how your child might be supported to attend these activities.