St Teresa’s champions Mental Health and Well-being for Infants

St Teresa’s champions Mental Health and Well-being for Infants

St Teresa’s school in Birkdale Southport are prioritising the mental health and wellbeing of their children with a series of innovative and exciting new programmes, the majority of which are completely free and available to all age groups.

This term teachers and children have been trained in the Massage in Schools Programme, learning three new massage techniques each week. This is an inclusive programme of positive touch and clothed peer massage for children aged 4-12 years. It is undertaken as a whole class and is given only by the child to a child. Children always ask permission from each other and have the right to say no each time.

Studies have shown that when children give massage to each other they become calmer, concentrate better and have more confidence. The school are finding this tobe of tremendous benefit to the children and their learning. The programme supports the Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum, and addresses such issues as awareness of self and others, personal safety and respect. Parents have also beeninvited in to have a massage from their child at a school coffee morning.

The school has found that the children have thoroughly enjoyed the programme, andare receiving more and more positive reports from family who are enjoying being ’practised on.’  

Syzmon in Year Two thinks that the massage “makes me feel peaceful”, and Talullahsays it makes her feel “joyful and happy”.

The school has implemented Relax Kids after school clubs, with ‘Mermaids and Pirates, and “Superheroes themes’.

These sessions consists of 7 parts: move  play  stretch  feel  breathe  believe  relax.                      

The school has also found time for daily Yoga sessions, following the Cosmic Kids you tube programme, and the Year 2 class runs or walks a mile daily in the school’s playground. The Cosmic Kids Yoga programme produces significant improvements in self-regulation, empathy and focus. It also provides aerobic exercise, muscle and bone strengthening. Mrs Kirkham, Year Two teacher said “the Yoga sessions provide a great transition from the fun and activity of lunchtime play back into a quieter mood ready to focus on learning”.

The benefits have been extremely positive and wide-reaching including: