Sentence starters can be useful prompts for children who are struggling to order their thinking or express the way the feel. Children and young people can use them to communicate verbally or to write down their thoughts and feelings. They can also be used to encourage students to identify actions they can take to support their wellbeing. Prior to using this resource with a child, please read through our guidance for delivering short activities, to ensure you have a good understanding of how to use the resources safely.

Our sixth coronavirus toolkit is full of resilience-building resources for children, school staff and parents and carers. When we experience sudden or unsettling change, one thing that can help us cope is resilience. Resilience helps us deal with the emotions a new situation may cause, and helps us bounce back from difficulties we might encounter. Being resilient is an emotional skill and is something we can develop and build, both as children and as adults. The resources in this toolkit are all about resilience and coping with change, which we hope will be useful for children, school staff and parents and carers alike. As some schools prepare to see more pupils return, building and nurturing resilience will be more important than ever. Suitable for: early years children Key Stage 1 pupils Key Stage 2 pupils school staff parents and carers. Find more coronavirus resources and toolkits on Mentally Healthy Schools.

CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY TOOLKIT The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘mental health for all’. In this toolkit, we’ve created and curated a set of resources focusing on inclusivity and celebrating our differences. The resources are designed to help you support your pupils who may need more help with their mental health, and celebrate the unique and different qualities each child brings to your school community. The toolkit is split into two sections: ‘The same but different’ resource set We’ve created a set of resources all about celebrating diversity and difference. There’s an assembly plan, tips from teachers, and three lesson plans for different age groups (children aged 4 to 5, 5 to 8 and 9 to 11). You can use these resources in the week leading up to World Mental Health Day, to help you create a mentally healthy culture in your school. Further resources to support diverse groups of children We have also collected together resources to be delivered to, or inform your work with, groups of children who may need more support with their mental health. There are resources included for: LGBTQ+ children Children from ethnic minority groups Refugee and asylum seeker children Looked-after children Young carers

Celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 and this year’s theme of ‘let’s connect’ with our free toolkits of resources for primary, secondary and FE settings. Children’s Mental Health Week starts on 6th February, and this year the theme is ‘let’s connect’, looking at the importance that connections with others have on our mental health. Healthy relationships with family, friends and others are vital for children’s wellbeing, offering a strong protective factor against poor mental health. Connections within a school setting are also very important – pupils should feel that they belong to, and are a valued part of, a school community. Their relationships with adults in the school should be positive, consistent, and based on trust and mutual respect. In this toolkit, we’re sharing free resources to help you explore the theme of connections with your pupils, and celebrate the week in your setting.

Celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 and this year’s theme of ‘let’s connect’ with our free toolkit of resources for secondary and FE settings. Children’s Mental Health Week starts on 6th February, and this year the theme is ‘let’s connect’, looking at the importance that connections with others have on our mental health. Healthy relationships with family, friends and others are vital for young people’s wellbeing, offering a strong protective factor against poor mental health. Connections within a school or college setting are also very important – students should feel that they belong to, and are a valued part of, a school or college community. Their relationships with adults in the school or college should be positive, consistent, and based on trust and mutual respect. In this toolkit, we’re sharing free resources to help you explore the theme of connections with your students, and celebrate the week in your setting.

Free, practical resources for primary schools, to help pupils feel calm and confident towards the end of Autumn term. There are also practical resources to boost staff wellbeing over the winter break, and a selection of free helplines and counselling services to signpost to for support. For more primary mental health resources visit www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

A resource to support children to reflect on the changes that have occurred over the last few months due to Coronavirus. Some children may find the transition back to school difficult after lockdown. It may be useful in the first few weeks of school to reflect on the lockdown period. This resource helps children think about what they have experienced and cope with the changes that have occurred.

Download the Mentally Healthy Schools free toolkit about internet safety, packed full of practical teaching resources for primary school staff. The toolkit includes lesson plans, videos, quizzes, animations, assembly plans and information and guidance. It covers topics such as cyberbullying, gaming, social media, website use and other online risks. Find more resources at www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

A free toolkit with resources and tips to help support the mental health and wellbeing of school staff, parents, carers and children. In this toolkit you will find: resources for staff wellbeing, including carers and headteachers, resources to help communicate the coronavirus outbreak to children with SEND and responding to the unique challenges that may arise for vulnerable children. There are also some further resources to help manage anxiety and improve wellbeing. #coronavirus #covid19 #covid-19

This free toolkit is our third coronavirus toolkit. It includes resources for school staff, as well as parents, to use with vulnerable children or children with SEND, a resource from Stonewall for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as a resource pack for staff wellbeing and practical activities for adults and children to help stay mentally well during this time. #coronavirus #covid19 #covid-19

This written resource supports children and young people not only express their feelings but identify why they are feeling a particular way. When these feelings are positive children can refer back to activities that took place that day to help them practice self care. The resource can also be used to support conversation with children and young people on strategies to improve wellbeing, alongside being shared with parents and carers for a further insight into their child’s thoughts and feelings. Prior to using this resource with a child, please read through our guidance for delivering short activities, to ensure you have a good understanding of how to use the resources safely.

In our 7th coronavirus toolkit, focusing on managing transitions and preparing children for change, there are lots of free, quality-assured resources for school staff, parents and carers and children. The toolkit is packed full of practical activities, guidance, an assembly plan, tips, videos and booklets to help children transition to primary school or to transition from primary to secondary school. For more coronavirus toolkits and other resources, head to www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

Brain breaks are mental and physical activities to break up a period of concentration. These brain breaks may be particular useful after spending long periods sitting or using technology. The brain break may be relaxing or energizing, but they are always intended to get the body and mind going and help children focus once they return to normal classroom activities. Using this resource This resource is designed for: children of all ages use with a whole class Depending of the age of the children, the brain breaks could be used every hour or less for around five minutes. Try to use a variety, and fit them well to the mood and situation. For example, you should choose an active brain break if the previous activity is sedentary, or a maths-related one if you have been studying a different topic. For more resoures, go to www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources

This simple activity will show children how to reframe their thinking around a negative situation, and look for positive ways to view the situation. We all have negative thoughts and may get into patterns of negative thinking. In times of distress, these may occur more frequently, and it is easy to be self-critical and focus on the negative thoughts. Sometimes we might catastrophise a situation, making it seem worse than it really is, or we might blame ourselves for things out of our control. This resource may be a useful tool for children to use once they have returned to school after the coronavirus lockdown. Using this resource This resource is designed for: Children aged 4 to 11 Use with individual children This resource forms part of our rebuild and recover set of resources, designed to help schools come back together and support their pupils’ wellbeing after lockdown. Northern Ireland - Personal Development and Mutual Understanding England - RSHE Wales & Scotland - Health and Wellbeing

BRAIN BREAKS: HELPING CHILDREN SETTLE BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM Following lockdown, your students may find it difficult to return to the formality of sitting at desks and concentrating for longer periods of time. To reduce this restlessness, intersperse your lessons with brain breaks, which are short bursts of activity to keep their brain and body active. We have suggest 8 different brain breaks for you to try in this resource. You can begin these more frequently, gradually reducing throughout the term as the children re-adapt to their regular routine. Using this resource This resource is designed for: children aged 7 to 11 use by whole classes This resource forms part of our rebuild and recover set of resources, designed to help schools come back together and support their pupils’ wellbeing after lockdown.