Schools
Schools
"Schools can be confident that a focus on well-being and mental health not only enables them to provide healthy and happy school environments for pupils and staff and prepare the citizens of tomorrow with sound character and values, but also directly supports their more immediate mission: the promotion of effective learning."
Professor Katherine Weare
- Partnership for Well-being and Mental Health in Schools (2015)
Mind Happy works with schools for tailored termly, weekly and individual sessions, such as well-being weeks/days.
Mindfulness in Schools
Mind Happy uses the Mindfulness in School programme to teach 7-11 year olds, a leading classroom based mindfulness curriculum. Paws b
was carefully crafted by classroom teachers and mindfulness experts to engage young children. It is taught with striking visuals, film clips and activities that bring mindfulness to life without losing the expertise and integrity of classic mindfulness teaching. The Paws b program is taught from Y3 to Y6. Paws b is based on 6 themes taught as six one-hour lessons or twelve half-hour lessons.
Mindfulness can help the children practically by increasing confidence, concentration and self-control, while providing practical tools to help with exam nerves, social skills, self-management and thinking skills which is promoted in the national curriculum as neuroscience and metacognition.
In 2017 MiSP launched an online tool to measure the impact of .b and Paws b for pupils and staff in the classroom. Since then 4,271 pupils have given their feedback on the impact these curricula have had in their lives - please take a look.
For more information about what the Mindfulness in Schools Project and the curriculum click on the picture below
Massage in Schools Programme
The Massage in Schools Programme (MISP), is well established and is used in schools throughout the country. It is an inclusive programme of mindful positive touch and is aimed at Foundation Stage, KS1 and KS2 children.
The Massage in Schools Association is a member of the Anti-bullying Alliance
Paired children only ever work on their partners clothed back, neck, head and arms.
Adults do not massage children, unless it is a parent/carer.
MISP helps to bring healthy, nurturing touch into classrooms and the community.
Mind Happy supports schools with informing staff and parents about the benefits MISP.
The sessions are fun, practical and perfect for kinaesthetic learning. They initially range from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the age group, though once mastered by the children, the entire routine takes no longer than 15 minutes, thus enabling a large number of children to access the experience.
The observed benefits, by teachers and educators, and more formal research has shown that the Massage in Schools Programme can
benefit schools and children by -
*Improved concentration levels and engagement
*Calmer classrooms
*Lower stress levels
*Increase in children’s self-esteem and confidence
*Increase in creativity and imagination
*Reduction in bullying and aggression
*Developing greater respect and empathy for their peers
*Overall increase in emotional health and wellbeing
*Teaches the difference between positive, healthy touch and inappropriate touch
*Improves children’s motor skills
*Encourages visualisation and kinaesthetic learning
*An inclusive programme that embraces all abilities, faiths and races
*Supports cross-curriculum learning
For more information about the Massage in Schools Programme click on the leaflet image below.
A whole school approach to well-being can be a powerful tool for school improvement and increased pupil attainment and achievement.
Paws b & Peer Massage complement other related schemes and school priorities, such as Growth Mindset and P4C.
Start your journey with Mind Happy
