Pupils at our Prep School are now enjoying regular “brain breaks” throughout the school day, designed to help them reset and refocus.

Brain breaks are short, intentional pauses that might involve gentle movement, mindfulness or a creative activity. They give pupils a chance to notice when a pause is needed, choose a brief activity such as stretching or deep breathing and use that moment to reset before returning to their work with renewed focus and clarity.
Research shows that even brief breaks can make a significant difference, boosting concentration, memory and overall wellbeing. By taking just a few minutes to pause, pupils can regulate their emotions, shift their attention and return to learning feeling refreshed and ready to engage.

Our pupils have embraced this new practice exceptionally well. In Years 4 to 6, they are developing key life skills such as deep breathing, managing emotions and becoming more self-aware. Many have shared with their teachers how they use brain breaks at home to support others, demonstrating growing empathy and awareness. Pupils are also becoming more conscious of their own emotions on the playground and continuing to practice perspective-taking, which are important steps in building strong social skills and confidence in emotional intelligence.

We believe that when children feel balanced and happy, they are better able to focus, learn and develop the social and emotional skills that help them grow into confident, well-rounded individuals. Introducing brain breaks into daily life at the Prep School is one way we are supporting this, giving pupils the opportunity to pause, recharge and look after their mental health and overall wellbeing – something we are very committed to as a School.