Sally Finch, Executive Headteacher of St Margaret’s C of E Academy in Bowers Gifford, recently wrote an article for The Headteacher magazine about the school’s introduction of mindfulness spaces into their indoor and outdoor areas.
After lockdown restrictions were eased off and the children returned to school, Miss Finch noticed a change in behaviour amongst many of the students who had previously had no such issues. The fact that these children had not experienced these problems prior to lockdown led Miss Finch to conclude that this poor behaviour was a direct result of the excitement and anxiety caused by the children’s return to school.
A small number of students who had previously been very sociable with their teachers and peers were also struggling to interact with other children and get involved with classroom activities, a pattern which Miss Finch quickly connected to the total isolation experienced by many of the students during their time away from school.
In order to help these children return to normality and feel comfortable enough to share their feelings, Miss Finch and other members of the school community created wellbeing spaces across the school, wherein children were able to tend to the plants and spend time playing with sensory toys in the fresh air.
Since the introduction of these communal spaces, Miss Finch has noticed a significant improvement in behaviour, which she feels is one of the many benefits of adopting more calming spaces throughout the school.
You can read Sally Finch’s article about mindfulness spaces on The Headteacher website.
JOHN 15:5
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