What do we mean by belonging?
Belonging is the sense of connection with a group or institution, for example a group of peers, family or school. Young people and staff need to feel like they belong to a social group as well as belong to the school itself. When students feel included and connected to school they will be more likely to participate in the school community and achieve academic success.
Developing a sense of belonging helps children and young people feel socially accepted and safe. Young people who feel that they belong are more likely to find support from friends and in school to support their emotional health and wellbeing. They are also less likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours because they have a sense of purpose in life, have better resilience and higher self-esteem.
Belonging is a key component of developing good Health Education in schools.
