This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Education Safeguarding Professional, Jatinder Matharu, for the attention of All Schools.
New Toolkit Offers Practical Strategies For Teachers To Support Secondary Students’ Mental Health
The Anna Freud Centre and the Early Intervention Foundation have released a free resource, Classroom wellbeing toolkit: Simple ways to support secondary students. The new toolkit is aimed at secondary school staff, however all school and FE college leaders, teachers and school staff are welcome, particularly those with a responsibility for mental health. This seminar is also open to educational psychologists, and any allied professionals interested in supporting mental health in schools and FE colleges.
This new resource will help build teachers' confidence to address the needs of their students, covering five strategy areas on:
- building supportive relationships
- creating a classroom environment where all students feel they belong
- promoting good mental health
- responding to stress, low mood and anxiety
- preventing bullying, cyberbullying and sexual harassment
It is designed for secondary school subject teachers, but will also be useful for teaching assistants, librarians and other support staff. It is not about asking teachers to be mental health professionals, but instead focuses on enhancing the quality of the classroom environment and staff–student relationships.
It is an evidence-based resource that gives guidance on practical steps teachers and other adults in secondary schools can take to promote and support mental health, through their everyday interactions with students. A free online event on Thursday 3 November at 4:30pm will explore some of the strategies in the toolkit in more depth