Through this session, you'll gain invaluable insights into the emotional challenges students often face, along with actionable strategies to help them feel calmer and more ready to engage in learning. The training covers both immediate techniques for calming and co-regulating with students, as well as longer-term approaches for proactive soothing, self-care, and creating a positive, low-arousal classroom environment.

By the end of the session, you'll walk away with a practical toolkit of strategies that will help foster a more supportive and inclusive learning environment, making it easier for all students to thrive emotionally and academically.

This principle can be applied to your classroom, particularly on the front focal wall. The front wall is typically the first place a student looks when entering the classroom, and it's essential that it doesn't overwhelm them with too many visual stimuli. To help promote focus and reduce distractions, I urge you to keep this space fairly clear. The exception could be a visual timetable, which helps children understand the structure of their day, your whiteboard, which can be used for teaching or writing instructions, and perhaps one or two key items that are relevant to the lesson or learning objective that day.

By keeping the front wall simple and purposeful, you create a space that encourages students to direct their attention to what matters most, whether it’s the lesson, the task in front of them, or the teacher’s instructions. A clear and uncluttered focal point can help students stay focused, aiding both their concentration and learning outcomes.

Sarah

1. Create a Safe and Inclusive Space
   Keep the classroom cozy, organised, and free from clutter to create a calming environment. Set clear expectations for kindness and respect to ensure every child feels valued.

2. Encourage Positive Relationships
   Build trust by actively listening to children, checking in on their well-being, and promoting peer support. Use group work and collaborative activities to foster community.

3. Support Emotional Regulation
   Introduce mindfulness exercises and breathing techniques to help students manage stress. Use tools like mood charts for students to express their emotions and practice positive reinforcement to boost self-esteem.

4. Promote Mental Health Awareness
   Encourage open conversations about mental health and provide resources for support. Include mental health topics in lessons and check in on childrens’ emotions regularly.

5. Create a Positive Atmosphere
   Use motivational quotes and affirmations in the classroom. Celebrate achievements and progress, no matter how small, to build a positive, affirming environment.

6. Establish Routine and Predictability
   Stick to a consistent schedule to reduce anxiety and help children feel secure. Use visual timetables for younger children or those who need extra support. Maybe you can use now and next boards?

7. Foster Creativity and Self-Expression
   Allow children to express themselves through art, journaling, or other creative outlets. Give them some autonomy in their learning to boost confidence and control.

8. Integrate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
   Teach SEL skills like empathy, problem-solving, and self-awareness. Use role-playing to help students practice handling emotional challenges.

9. Support Individual Needs
   Be flexible with childrens’ needs and offer personalised support when necessary. Adjust workloads or expectations to ensure every child feels supported and able to succeed.

1. Reduce Workload: Simplify tasks, prioritise key responsibilities, and streamline processes to help teachers manage their workload more effectively.

2. Provide Mental Health Resources: Offer access to counselling services, workshops, and stress-relief activities to support teachers' mental health.

3. Encourage Work-Life Balance: Promote clear boundaries between work and personal life, and encourage teachers to take regular breaks and time off.

4. Foster a Supportive Environment: Create a culture of support where teachers feel comfortable discussing their challenges and accessing help from colleagues or management.

5. Promote Self-Care: Encourage teachers to prioritise self-care and provide opportunities for relaxation, physical activity, or professional development related to wellbeing.

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) – the SDQ can assist schools in taking an overview and making a judgement about whether a pupil is likely to be suffering from a mental health problem.

The “2%ers” stand out a mile. They are enthusiastic, optimistic, energetic, effervescent and possess a ‘can-do’ mentality.

Research shows that they live longer, are more productive and raise the happiness levels of the people around them.

But, let’s face it, everyone needs a reminder! Staying happy and positive takes practice and know-how. You could do with all the help you can get! worth signing up to!

Four steps

1. Find your passion

2. Never hold yourself back

3. Help Others

4. Dream Big

Drop in session

Parents and carers can attend the drop in sessions. Details of these sessions can be found via the Facebook Page - HMR Neurodiversity Hub or you can email for more information.

What to expect: You will have a consultation with a member of the Neurodiversity Hub. We will discuss your concerns and support available. Our sessions jointly run with the Home-Start RAASS service and so you can chat to the Home-Start staff and other parents and look at resources whilst you wait. You will be offered a drink and a biscuit or breakfast.

Tuesday Advice Line

When: Every Tuesday

What to expect: You will have a consultation with a member of the Neurodiversity Hub. We will discuss your concerns and support available.

To book: Get in touch between 8am - 12pm on a Tuesday morning. You will then be added to a call back list and a member of the team will return your call between 1pm-5.30pm

Evening Advice Line

When: Wednesday evening (once a month) Details of these sessions can be found via the Facebook Page - HMR Neurodiversity Hub or you can get in touch for more information.

What to expect: You will have a consultation with a member of the Neurodiversity Hub. They will discuss your concerns and support available.

To book: Get in touch between 8am - 12pm on a Wednesday morning. You will then be added to a call back list and a member of the team will return your call between 6-8pm.

Tel: 0161 206 0606
Email: hmr-ndhub@nca.nhs.uk