Mrs Stanley was delighted to see the whole school gathered in the hall for our “Listening Ear” assembly. Before she began, she was pleased to invite Hugo (IV) to the stage so that he could share how he had received a medal for the hockey tournament he participated in over the weekend. Everyone was thrilled to applaud his achievement.
We were reminded of the value and importance of the “Listening Ear” initiative in our school. It provides every pupil with the opportunity to speak about any worries or concerns they may have. Mrs Stanley reaffirmed the members of staff involved in this programme but also emphasised that children could choose to speak to any trusted adult within the school. Pupils can do this by completing a Listening Ear slip, available in each classroom, and placing it in the designated mailbox. Mrs Stanley regularly checks the mailbox and arranges for pupils to speak with the person they feel most comfortable with—someone who can help them unpack their worries and let them fly away.
To help everyone understand how the “Listening Ear” could be relevant to them, we watched Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival. The story shows how a small worry can grow into something much bigger, affecting you wherever you go—until Ruby talks to a boy about what was troubling him. As they shared their worries, they found that the worries became smaller and eventually disappeared. The message was clear: by talking and sharing, you learn how to manage worries, even if they come back in the future.
We also watched The Worry Tree video, which offered strategies especially helpful for older pupils. It encouraged us to write down our concerns and consider whether the issue is something we can resolve now. If it is, we can take action. If not, we are encouraged to set it aside for the time being and refocus on what we can do in the present to address or manage the situation.
Mrs Stanley was delighted with how attentively everyone listened, reflected on the strategies shared in the videos, and understood the key message: if you have a worry that feels like it’s growing, talking to a trusted adult can truly help you manage and resolve it.
