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MHWB Newsletter www.circlesforlearning.co.uk
Circles for Learning
October 2020 Issue 32
This school year begins unlike any we’ve seen. Given
the significant gaps in students’ attendance, the many
varied approaches to home learning, and national
concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic, we are all
starting this academic year with significant and unique
challenges.
Our children and young people as well as ourselves will
have had very individual experiences of lockdown. We
all therefore need reintroduction to learning routines
and support with managing the many challenges ahead.
For many children they will need help rebuilding their
self-esteem, wellbeing, confidence and learning
potential. For others they will need to manage the loss
of experiences, ways of being, family financial
challenges, parental difficulties or the loss of family or
friends.
For teachers and support staff the amazing work that
they have put in to supporting their students and young
people before the summer break, the challenges of
online learning, managing their own anxiety and loss of
friends or colleagues will have taken their toll. They now
face the challenges of the ‘new’ classrooms, of bubbles,
one way systems, masks, fear of infection, the need to
support CYP academic progress as well as their MHWB,
supporting parents and re-engaging children with
learning.
It is a challenging time for all, but one that is being
overcome in powerful and meaningful ways. Support for
each other, sharing of practice, listening and
understanding different needs are all happening in
schools throughout the UK.
It is when I struggle that I strengthen. It is
when challenged to the core that I learn the
depth of who I am. Dr Steve Maraboli
Special Days: a way to focus on MHWB
Sept 21 World Gratitude Day: https://www.imaginelearning.com/blog/2018/11/11
-classroom-activities-teach-students-gratitude
Oct 4th World Dyslexia Awareness Day: https://my.optimus-education.com/
dyslexia-activities-raise-awareness
October 7th World Smile Day: https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/
eight_activities_celebrate_world_smile_day.shtml
Oct 10 World Mental Health Day: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/
media/1831/toolkit-wmhd.pdf
Oct 17 Child Poverty Day. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/
global-poverty-learning-day
Bubble Wrap Boy by Phil Earle
All my life I've been tiny Charlie from
the Chinese Chippie, whose only
friend is Sinus, the kid who stares at
walls. But I believe that everyone's
good at something. I've just got to
work out what my something is…
Charlie's found his secret talent:
skateboarding. It's his one-way tick-
et to popularity. All he's got to do is practice, and nothing's
going to stop him - not his clumsiness, not his overprotective
mum, nothing. Except Charlie isn't the only one in his family
hiding a massive secret, and his next discovery will change
everything. A great book for KS3 that explores relationships,
bullying, family secrets and above all finding your talent and
believing in yourself.
Books for Staff to support personal CPD
Accessible and practical, this book helps teachers incorporate execu-
tive function processes—such as planning, organizing, prioritizing,
and self-checking—into the classroom curriculum. Chapters provide
effective strategies for optimizing what K–12 students learn by
improving how they learn. Noted authority Lynn Meltzer and her
research associates present a wealth of easy-to-implement
assessment tools, teaching techniques and activities, and planning
aids. Featuring numerous whole-class ideas and suggestions, the
book also shows how to differentiate instruction for students with
learning or attention difficulties. Case examples illustrate
individualized teaching strategies and classroom accommodations.
More than a dozen reproducibles are included; the large-size format
facilitates photocopying and day-to-day reference.
Are you looking for ways to support the children you work with come back into the classroom and thrive after the Pandemic?
Click the link to look at and purchase Resource books for Teachers KS1-KS3
https://www.routledge.com/Mental-Health-and-Wellbeing-Teacher-Toolkit/book-series/MHWTT
EBPU Evidence Based Practice Unit Emerging Evidence:
Coronavirus and children and young peoples mental health Issue 3 August 2020
The coronavirus is having an impact on the lives of children and young people globally. Researchers
across the world are investigating what the psychological impact of the pandemic might be. This review
has been looking at the emerging evidence about the impact of the coronavirus on children and young
people’s mental health. The aim of these rapid reviews is to provide accessible summaries about the
key mental health challenges for children and young people during the pandemic and how parents, car-
ers, and professionals can help them to manage and to minimise these challenges. These summaries
are published monthly. This review is the third in the series and covers evidence found from 25th May
2020 to 14th June 2020.
Key mental health challenges for children and young people during the pandemic: • Mental
health difficulties such as anxiety and depression have markedly increased. • Feelings of panic, stress,
fear and fatigue amid uncertainty and a lack of control among young people are also widespread. • Dis-
ruption to young people’s ‘sense of control’ and ‘sense of meaning’ has contributed to growing stress
and anxiety. • Concerns about returning to schools and colleges are also common.
Key mental health challenges for disproportionately affected groups: • Children and young
people with pre-existing health and education needs, such as anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder(ADHD), and special educational needs are experiencing an increase in symptoms and compro-
mised access to support due to limited capacity of a range of services. • Children and young people
with pre-existing social care needs are struggling more due to reduced support systems and further fi-
nancial impacts of the pandemic. • Children and young people of colour are disproportionately affected
by the coronavirus as they and their parents and carers are both more likely to be key workers, and
more likely to work in shut-down sectors.
https://www.annafreud.org/media/12234/coronavirus-emerging-evidence-3-final.pdf
Top Tips for Staff
Wellbeing:
Looking After Teacher
Wellbeing: A resource from
the Education Support Partnership.
https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/sites/
default/files/looking_after_teacher_wellbeing.pdf
Staff Wellbeing Posters for the Staffroom
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/staff-wellbeing-poster-for-the-staffroom-11151040
https://my.optimus-education.com/sites/optimus-education.com/files/attachments/articles/12_ways_wellbeing_poster_a2_web.pdf
Resources for parents and Teachers to help support CYP Wellbeing Bingo https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/school-resources/
wellbeing-bingo/
The Virus Stopping Champions https://www.nabu.org/wp-content/
uploads/2020/04/COVID19_004_Virus-Stopping-
Champion_Portrait_EnglishOnly_DIGITAL_FINAL.pdf
Feelings Card Game https://www.happyconfident.com/member-post/feelings-
card-game/
Download a Puffin Activity Pack https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/
children/2019/jun/download-summer-activity-pack.html
Activities to do with your family over the transition to Secondary School http://
www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/activities-family-transition-secondary-school/
Lenny and Lily in Lockdown and Lenny and Lily Return to School will help
children make sense of their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic, com-
municate their feelings and prepare for more change as they go back to the
classroom. https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/lenny-and-lily-childrens-stories
Reconnection Packs free tools and resources for KS1-KS3 to help CYP settle
back to school https://collins.co.uk/pages/pshe-student-wellbeing-reconnection-
packs
Back to school support packs KS1-KS5 https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/
curriculum-and-resources/resources/back-school-support-packs-ks1-5
Podcast: Behaviour in Bitesized chunks:
Beaviour and Anxiety: https://changing-
behaviour.co.uk/podcasts.html
Video: A free 45 minute webinar featuring
Clare Edmondson (founder of Changing Behaviour
UK Ltd) and Ruari Hignell (Behaviour Expert for
Bracknell Forest Local Authority) focussing on us-
ing more therapeutic approaches when dealing
with behaviour that challenges. https://changing-
behaviour.co.uk/webinars.html
5 Steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing: Leading
Change Online course FREE https://
www.annafreud.org/training/training-and-conferences
-overview/online-conferences-webinars-and-events/5-
steps-to-mental-health-and-wellbeing-leading-change/
Whole School Resource: Mental
Health Foundation: Supporting pupils to return to
school https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
coronavirus/returning-school-after-lockdown/support-
pupils-return-to-school
Top 4 FREE Resources
Heads Up! A toolkit of sessions to run with young peo-
ple to promote mental health and emotional well-being
https://www.phf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/
Heads20Up20Final20Approved20version.pdf
'What's on Your Mind?' The pack is to support both teachers and young peo-
ple to learn about mental health and develop the skills and confidence to tackle
stigma and discrimination in school and the wider community. https://
www.seemescotland.org/young-people/whats-on-your-mind/
CLPE's Recovery Curriculum for Primary Schools - Teaching Notes for Here
We Are: Notes for Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers https://clpe.org.uk/aboutus/
news/clpes-recovery-curriculum-primary-schools-teaching-notes-here-we-are-
notes-planet-earth
The Little Helpers https://www.sophiesstories.co.uk/the-little-helpers
Scoop is a bi-monthly digital and printed magazine for children 7+ (Key
Stages 2 & 3) and is a fantastic tool for teachers and tutors who believe in the
joy of reading and the power of storytelling. THIS IS NOT FREE BUT HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED https://scoopthemag.co.uk/
Have you just taken the
Mental Health Lead in
Your School?
Are you looking for supervision
from a fully trained professional? I
am an Educational Psychotherapist
and Wellbeing Consultant in
schools. I can offer face to face,
phone or skype supervision for SLT
or Wellbeing Leads. I am happy to
chat and see if this is could be use-
ful to you? Drop me an email and
we can arrange a time to talk that
suites you.
Contact alisonwater-
