Five strategies to settle children into the new school year

Student anxiety can rise at this time of year. Addressing anxiety early could prevent a child from developing emotionally based school avoidance, putting even greater pressure on their academic achievement and social development.

These five strategies can help schools ensure children get off to the best possible start in September.  

1. Normalise stress

Children can experience stress as the subjects they are learning become more complex or they begin preparing for exams.

It is important to explain to students that a certain level of stress is completely normal and if handled well, it can even help them perform better.

Suggest some effective techniques children can use to reduce anxiety, such as deep breathing. Grounding techniques such as Five Senses are helpful too, where students take time to acknowledge the sights, feelings, sounds, smells and tastes around them.

2. Support emotional literacy

Some children find it harder to explain how they are feeling than others, particularly if they are neurodivergent or have additional needs such as language gaps. This can add to the anxiety they might be experiencing.

Explore resources which can help children express themselves and interpret emotions. One option could be to create visual prompts or different coloured zones in the classroom which children can use to tell teachers how they are feeling. You can then verbalise the emotion to help them build the language they need to explain their feelings. 

3. Encourage positive peer support

Students don’t always want to approach an adult when they are anxious or concerned about school. Sometimes they prefer to talk to someone of their own age.

Peer mentoring can be remarkably effective at reducing anxiety related to learning or friendships. One way to provide this support is to have a team of nominated students who children can go to for help and advice when they need it.

If your school has a dedicated Mental Health Lead, they will be able to provide these mentor students with training to help them understand how they can support their peers.

If you would be interested in training a senior mental health lead for your school, we offer a range of courses and you can apply for full DfE funding here. 

4. Build resilience

Students who have negative thoughts about themselves and their abilities might seek to avoid a situation which makes them uncomfortable. However, it’s unhelpful to allow a child to simply avoid anxiety-provoking situations because this denies them the opportunity to grow in maturity and build resilience.

You can support students who are struggling with anxiety by encouraging them to create a House of Worries, which is a template they can use to write or draw the things which make them anxious. Is it because classmates often behave badly in that lesson? Or are they concerned about forgetting the equipment they need? With a clearer understanding of the issues, you can help them to put strategies in place to feel more in control of the school day.

5. Keep the focus on a child’s strengths

Some students react badly to feedback from their teachers which is designed to help them improve.

Try to emphasise a child’s strengths and what is going well for them before moving on to the areas for development. You can reassure a student that although they haven’t reached their target mark yet, they are taking important steps towards it. This helps keep conversations in the classroom positive. It will also give you the chance to pick up on any automatic negative thoughts which could be damaging to their confidence.

These strategies have been developed by the educational psychology experts at the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health.

Click here to find out more about our senior mental health lead course starting on 16^th September.