Last year, the KHDA, the educational assurance and regularity authority of the Government of Dubai, released Wellbeing Matters, a new guiding framework for Dubai private schools.

The framework creates a common point of reference of what wellbeing in schools should look like and how teachers, support staff and parents can bring improvements. The framework is based on international research and policies and includes standards to help schools improve their wellbeing provision over time.

International research is increasingly showing that improved wellbeing is important for students, their families and teachers, and is a “pre-requisite for the future success of humanity.” As student wellbeing becomes more important, your school and school staff will need to incorporate the government’s Wellbeing Matters framework into your school’s wellbeing policy.

You can read and download the full report here. 

However, to maximise your time, Hodder Education has pulled out some of the key takeaways for you.

The takeaways of Wellbeing Matters

1) Wellbeing is important to healthy student development

Wellbeing is a catalyst for human development, and the OECD defines it as: "the psychological, cognitive, social and physical functioning and capabilities that we students need to live a happy and fulfilling life."

2) Enhanced student wellbeing improves student abilities and attainment

Through enhancing wellbeing, students become more emotionally literate and creative, which means they also become more agile and develop an enhanced capacity for problem-solving. They also become more resilient when facing challenges and are more likely to employ a growth mindset and persevere.

3) Health, wellbeing and academic achievement are connected

International evidence highlights the interdependence between health, wellbeing and academic achievement, and our own research at Hodder Education has also identified this link. You can read the highlights here. 

Download the whitepaper here.

4) There are 5 principles for school leaders when creating a wellbeing policy

There are five guiding principles that school leaders need to be mindful of when working to develop the wellbeing provision in their school:

1. Student and family-focused: understand the uniqueness of each student.
2. Strengths-based: focus on student’s strengths not their deficits.
3. Equitable: develop an inclusive learning culture.
4. Diverse: value and create a diverse school community.
5. Collectivist: recognise that every member of the school community is a facilitator and beneficiary when developing a wellbeing process.

5) Wellbeing Matters recommends 3 focus areas

The three wellbeing evaluation focus areas for schools are as follows:

1. Leading and pursuing wellbeing
2. Listening to and supporting stakeholders
3. Enabling wellbeing experiences and outcomes

Why you should consider Hodder Education’s Wellbeing and Attitudes to Learning: Survey and Strategies

Hodder Education’s Wellbeing and Attitudes to Learning: Survey and Strategies is an online profiling tool that schools can use to monitor and better support the wellbeing and academic development of their students aged 7–11.

Using this in conjunction with the Wellbeing Matters framework will help schools to:

• Set and pursue a wellbeing vision
• Sustain and embed improvement
• Use data and information
• Create an enabling and holistic environment.

In this coming academic year, these teachers will be using Wellbeing and Attitudes to Learning in their schools, alongside the Wellbeing Matters framework, and this is what they have to say about how they are supporting and monitoring their student’s wellbeing:

Our school has been using the platform for an extended period. It's proven invaluable for surveying our students' wellbeing, and the ability to conduct surveys multiple times allows us to compare and track student wellbeing data over time. Additionally, the support team has been prompt and effective whenever we've needed assistance

- School Counsellor, Bright Learners Private School, Dubai.

Drop your local sales consultant Tom Francis a message and start enhancing your school’s wellbeing.