Wellbeing
Taking the emotional temperature of the class
Build in regular check-ins
Explore what the child needs to feel better
Create a climate of support
Develop purposeful relationships
Monitor changes in emotional behaviour
Ensuring the environment is safe for learning
Supporting social needs
Clear communication and supportive language
Quality first teaching for wellbeing
Ensuring the environment is safe for sharing emotional needs
Teaching and Learning
Create an inclusive classroom where everyone is able to access learning and have a sense of belonging, worth and self-value.
Ensure differentiation with all aspects of teaching
Understand that behaviour is a symptom of an unmet need
Teach children about mental health and wellbeing, release the stigma on talking about mental health
Introduce transition time at the start of every day to prepare the children for learning
Teach children to keep bodies and minds safe and well
Integrate online safety tips during the day about sharing and online presence
Classroom Environment
Have wellbeing notice boards with information that supports mental health
Use music to create an environment suitable for learning
Provide pupils with a sense of belonging by creating your own classroom wellbeing values
Recruit wellbeing ambassadors for your classroom
Promote mental health champions
Recognise wellbeing heroes of the day or week – use them as role models to promote and champion wellbeing
Teach the importance of quiet time or silence
Make kindness and compassion a daily focus and recognise this
Introduce peer mentors within the class
Ensure safe spaces for children
Introduce a ‘feelings/worry box’ in the classroom
Be aware of sensory overload…lighting, sounds and can trigger feelings of anxiety
Relationships
Value each and every child for their own unique qualities
Have regular ‘check-ins’ with your pupils throughout the day
Take time to recognise any changes to a child’s wellbeing and keep a record of these
Build positive and safe relationships
Listen to understand
Take time to get to know your pupils – inside out – hobbies, special achievements etc
Offer hidden talent session every half term – show and tell
Children thrive on affirmations – share your own and invite the children to share theirs in a creative way
Knowing their good has been recognised
Resources
Include books for wellbeing within your classroom libraries
Know where to get help if you are worried about a pupil’s mental health
Use language scripts to promote consistency when talking about mental health and wellbeing
Share child-friendly apps and websites to support emotional regulation
Introduce sensory boxes to help children regulate their emotions
Emotional Toolkit
Offer 'Talking Time' for pupils to speak about challenging feelings
Practice mindfulness to calm the mind and the body at stressful times
Create Random Acts of Kindness Jars
Offer regular brain breaks
Introduce ‘This is Me’ pegs to celebrate a sense of self
Include discrete check-in boards in the classroom
Celebrate a ‘Wellbeing Wondrous’ moment as part of teaching and learning
Use grounding techniques and breathe work
Further support and resources
Mental Health First Aid England: Mental Health First Aid England offers a range of evidence-based face-to-face and digital learning, from awareness raising to skill development. Their courses empower people to notice signs of mental ill health and encourage them to break down barriers, listen in a non-judgmental way, and signpost to support for recovery.
Young Minds: One of the UK’s leading charities fighting for children and young people's mental health.
Child Bereavement UK: Child Bereavement UK helps children, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. We support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age.
Mind: Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust: Charlie Waller Memorial Trust educate young people, and those with responsibility for them – so parents, educators, employers, GPs and Practice Nurses - about their mental health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing Connected
LGfL have worked with schools to produce this Wellbeing Connected, an open access resource for Primary Schools, it has been designed to bring the key information in both a video and text format with a quick and accessible interface.
Healthy Minds
These resources have been produced in partnership with the leading mental health charity for young people - Young Minds. They feature a range of teacher led activities involving group work promoting self reflection and video content with supporting activities.
Managing a Sudden Death In The School Community
Guidance for schools, particularly senior managers, when supporting bereavement in a school community, including videos, support packs and assemblies.
Supporting a Bereaved Pupil
Drawing on the vast experience of Child Bereavement UK (CBUK) and with video footage from school leaders within the LGfL community, this resource has been developed as a tool for teachers in school to support children at this most difficult of stages in their lives.
Adolescent Resilience
Resources from a range of different organisations. These include information on academic research, materials for whole-school approaches as well as lesson series and one-off resources, plus targeted support for specific problems, and signposting.