How can schools tackle low-level anxiety?

Low-level anxiety amongst children and young people is on the rise, and they need support to build a toolkit they can use to manage their feelings and deal with the everyday challenges of school life. All teachers and school leaders strive to create a positive and welcoming environment for their students. However, there are many aspects of school life which can, unintentionally, provoke feelings of anxiety for pupils of all ages. 

What are the two main causes of anxiety in school children?

So, what are the causes of low-level pupil anxiety and how can schools help students to manage, and even overcome it?

The reasons are many and varied, but some of the main factors centre around attachment issues and, in older children, navigating adolescence.

1. Separation anxiety
   
   For primary school children, separation anxiety, being apart from key caregivers, is a common source of distress and can make drop-off times tricky to navigate
   
   When you add multiple classroom routines, new experiences and environments, the legacy of COVID, and unexpected changes of plan into the mix, you begin to understand why low-level anxiety is increasing in primary schools
2. Relationships and pressure to achieve
   
   For secondary pupils, the reason for their anxiety is likely to be a combination of factors. During this transitional stage of life, teenagers can begin to struggle with relationships, both with family and friends as well as a mounting pressure to achieve academically. They might also feel fearful about their future

How can low-level anxiety affect school children?

The impact of pupil anxiety, even if it is low-level, can be far reaching. It can isolate individuals, sap their self-confidence and self-esteem, and prevent them from enjoying a fulfilling and successful time at school.

Left unchecked, day-to-day worries can soon escalate into persistent anxiety, leading students to fall into the trap of unhealthy thought patterns and negative thinking.

They may begin to doubt their own abilities, catastrophise about potential outcomes, or start to focus exclusively on the negative aspects of school life.

What can schools do to help reduce pupil anxiety?

Although it can be tempting to allow a child to avoid anxiety-provoking situations, this is rarely an effective strategy in the long run. It denies them the opportunity to grow in maturity, formulate different responses and build resilience.

Instead, teachers and leaders can support student mental health by encouraging them to develop their own coping techniques so they can face the challenges they fear, and experience success.

Fortunately, there are several steps schools can take to equip young people with the tools they need to effectively manage their own feelings and reduce their anxiety.

1. Help children recognise their anxiety triggers
   
   Talk to the student about which part (or parts) of the school day makes them feel anxious. Perhaps it’s a particular lesson, or the transition between break and learning time
   
   One way to help students identify what’s making them anxious is to use the House of Worries: The student uses a house template to write about or draw the things causing them to worry


2. Techniques to improve pupils’ response to anxiety
   
   Help a student to recognise their feelings of anxiety and encourage them to try regulating techniques. Breathing exercises, moving around, or walking outside are all ways to help reduce pupil anxiety levels
   
   Some students respond well to grounding techniques such as the Five Senses where they acknowledge the sights, feelings, sounds, smells and tastes around them
   
   Physical techniques like scrunching toes, can also be an effective way to regulate emotions
   
   Soon, the student will learn to respond to anxiety in ways that work best for them



3. Use social stories to help reduce anxiety

   Social stories can be a highly effective way of reducing fear and anxiety in children. They involve creating a short description of what is going to happen during an event and should include specific information about what to expect

   For example, if a younger student is anxious about a school trip, part of their action plan in the lead up to the excursion might include talking through their worries, creating a social story, and allowing them to ‘buddy up’ with a friend for the trip

   Similar techniques can also be adapted and used for older, secondary-aged pupils when they might be going on a residential visit




4. Spot the signs and act early 
   
   By spotting the warning signs of low-level anxiety, teachers and other professionals can intervene early, equipping children and young people with the strategies they need to manage their emotions and prevent anxiety getting the better of them

For more tips on the best ways to tackle anxiety in your school, download our free How To Tackle Student Anxiety guide.