A school’s year five pupils have learnt important skills to help them with their mental health.
Claire Clements of Positive Pants recently delivered a five-week long programme at Barnby Road Academy, Newark, which culminated with pupils showcasing what they’d learnt to their family and friends.
Funded by a grant from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Communities Fund, the scheme aimed to equip year five pupils with wellbeing tools and awareness about their emotions.
Barnby Road Academy pupils showcase their work with Positive Pants.
Claire said: “Positive Pants is all about early intervention and preventing poor mental health.
“This was the first pilot of this scheme for schools, and it’s been great. I’ve got good feedback from the children.
“We’ve been looking at what things make us feel good, awareness of our feelings and taking responsibility for our emotions, breathing techniques and other techniques — like choosing to kick a football when you feel angry — and confidence.
“Barnby Road is very invested in wellbeing anyway, so it’s been really great to support a school who are taking an active approach to this.”
Barnby Road Academy pupils Miya Stapleton 9, Raff Smith 10, and Blossom Found, 10, with Claire Clements of Positive Pants. Photo: David Dawson/Iliffe MediaThe Positive Pants programme began with a whole-school assembly. Photo: Supplied
The programme began with a whole-school assembly to around 450 children, before a group of 25 year five pupils were selected to take part in the series of workshops with Claire.
These pupils then fed back what they’d learnt to fellow year fives and parents at a showcase on Thursday (March 26).
Other mental health and wellbeing providers were also present at the showcase, enabling parents to see the range of support available to their families.
Steven Chamberlain, head of Barnby Road Academy, said: “It’s been beneficial in terms of their wellbeing, being able to talk about topics which can be difficult, and building their resilience to cope with situations they may face.
Pupils taking part in the Positive Pants workshops. Photo: SuppliedClaire Clements of Positive Pants with Barnby Road Academy pupils Blossom Found, 10, Raff Smith ,10, and Miya Stapleton, 9. Photo: David Dawson/Iliffe Media
“It’s something that we’d definitely encourage, and is at the forefront of our thinking about developing pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.”
Eliza Pain was among the pupils selected to take part and described how she’d been learning about positivity and “how to make ourselves happy” — which included a P for Positivity poster full of information prepared for the showcase.
Another pupil who took part in the workshops, Violet Simmons, added: “It’s been good, really nice.
25 year five pupils were selected for the five-week Positive Pants programme. Photo: SuppliedThe Positive Pants workshops equipped pupils with wellbeing techniques and awareness. Photo: Supplied
“We’ve been learning about box breathing and other techniques.”
Claire is now hoping to deliver the programme to even more Newark-area schools and will be running both online and in-person events for parents to learn more about mental health support.
