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Health and Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of both pupils and staff is crucial to a successful and healthy school. We offer a range of best practice articles and case studies focusing on supporting staff wellbeing and morale as well as pupils' mental health, wellbeing and happiness.

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Lockdown: Ideas to boost children’s wellbeing during Covid

As we face-up to another national lockdown, pupil wellbeing will once again come to the fore. Shahana Knight offers some ideas and advice for primary schools

Lockdown: How are you ‘holding in mind’ your pupils?

The benefit of “holding in mind” our children and families during these difficult times are numerous. Angela Greenwood looks at what this might mean for your primary school

Looked after and fragile: How schools can support children in care

The barriers faced by children in care, or looked after children, are manifold and well-documented, perhaps more so now than ever before. How can we help these students to face and overcome these challenges? Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale advises

Boost your wellbeing: Five simple steps for school staff

The pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on the wellbeing and resilience of school staff. Dr Pooky Knightsmith explains five simple steps to boost your wellbeing when things feel hard

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Behaviour: Connection not disconnection

Continuing her regular look at therapeutic teaching approaches, Shahana Knight discusses why traditional methods of behaviour management, based on disconnection and rejection, will not yield lasting results. She looks at some alternative approaches which help pupils to manage their difficult ...

Wellbeing at Christmas: Time to focus on you

This Christmas holiday may be the first time that many teachers and school leaders have chance to take a breath and step back from the chaos and stress of Covid-19. Sophie Howells says that now is the time to prioritise your wellbeing – and offers some ideas

How to collect staff feedback on workload and wellbeing

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, it is important to check in on your staff to see how remote learning and Covid restrictions are affecting their workload and wellbeing. Katherine Fowler shares some practical tips on how to talk to your staff and gather feedback, so that you can help ...

Christmas performances and how to salvage them

Pre-recorded films, live streamed performances or other ideas and approaches – how is your school or class approaching the traditional end-of-term spectacular? Ben Case looks at the options

Ideas to support staff and pupil wellbeing at the time of Covid

As the Covid-19 pandemic rumbles on, the emotional impact for both teachers and students continues to be a huge cause for concern. Matt Bromley considers some practical strategies we can employ to offer support in the coming months

Student wellbeing: Maslow before you Bloom

The idea of ‘Maslow before you Bloom’ is once again gaining traction in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. SENCO Sanjo Jeffrey says this approach is crucial to supporting academic outcomes this year and beyond

RSE and parental consultation: Getting it right

Parental engagement and consultation is a vital component of effective relationships and sex education. Leah Jewett offers her advice to primary schools on RSE delivery and parental engagement

Covid-19: Dealing with grief and supporting staff and pupils

As the pandemic continues, supporting pupils and staff who have been affected by bereavement has become an even bigger consideration for schools. Helen Frostick advises

Behaviour: Inclusion using a trauma-informed approach

Some challenging behaviour in schools will be due to learned trauma responses. Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers some pointers for a more inclusive, trauma-informed approach

Pupil Premium: Tracking progress, challenges and involvement – a case study

A small sheet of paper completed four times a year has transformed one primary school’s approach to Pupil Premium support and intervention. Jessica Hawley explains

Pupil Premium: The persistent problem of poverty

Covid-19 is expected to exacerbate the already stark child poverty crisis facing millions of young people in our country. Sean Harris looks at how schools might poverty-proof their work

Staff wellbeing: Managing feelings of anxiety

School staff may well be struggling with feelings of anxiety as the pandemic continues and schools remain open. Sophie Howells advises

Supporting pupils who have to self-isolate

The emotional implications of individual pupils or entire social bubbles being forced to self-isolate should not be dismissed. Shahana Knight looks at how we can manage and support the emotional wellbeing of children who are ‘sent home’

The Wheel of Teaching: How do you score?

The Wheel of Teaching sets out eight aspects of your teaching life that are crucial to your wellbeing and job satisfaction. Drawing on the advice in his new book Love Teaching Keep Teaching, Peter Radford explains

Behaviour: Verbal and non-verbal communication

There are many children who expend much of their time and energy trying to decipher adult communications and masking their responses with ‘poor behaviour’ when they feel that they have misunderstood. Sara Alston looks at verbal and non-verbal communication

Creating inclusive classroom environments: Practical advice & ideas

How can we best support pupils who struggle with behaviour or emotional wellbeing? What does a positive, inclusive classroom environment look like? Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale offers some advice and ideas

Covid-19 recovery: Time to start listening to our pupils

What does ‘recovery’ mean? Post-lockdown and as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, we are all talking about pupil wellbeing – but are we listening to the children? Jenny Mosley urges a renewed focus on circle time and other ways of supporting pupil (and staff) wellbeing

Spotting the signs: 10 mental health challenges post-Covid

What kind of wellbeing and mental health issues will some students be presenting with this term and what signs should we be alert for? Dr Pooky Knightsmith considers 10 challenges we are likely to see in the coming weeks and months – and what we can do to help

Health and Wellbeing

Lockdown: Ideas to boost children’s wellbeing during Covid

Lockdown: How are you ‘holding in mind’ your pupils?

Looked after and fragile: How schools can support children in care

Boost your wellbeing: Five simple steps for school staff

Behaviour: Connection not disconnection

Wellbeing at Christmas: Time to focus on you

How to collect staff feedback on workload and wellbeing

Christmas performances and how to salvage them

Ideas to support staff and pupil wellbeing at the time of Covid

Student wellbeing: Maslow before you Bloom

RSE and parental consultation: Getting it right

Covid-19: Dealing with grief and supporting staff and pupils

Behaviour: Inclusion using a trauma-informed approach

Pupil Premium: Tracking progress, challenges and involvement – a case study

Pupil Premium: The persistent problem of poverty

Staff wellbeing: Managing feelings of anxiety

Supporting pupils who have to self-isolate

The Wheel of Teaching: How do you score?

Behaviour: Verbal and non-verbal communication

Creating inclusive classroom environments: Practical advice & ideas

Covid-19 recovery: Time to start listening to our pupils

Spotting the signs: 10 mental health challenges post-Covid

Language and communication strategies as part of good pedagogy

Wellbeing: Supporting students who have to self-isolate

Covid: Making remote learning work in the months ahead