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Children have urgent mental health needs:
1 in 5 children experience a ‘probable MH disorder’ in the UK (NHS Digital, 2022) (it was 1 in 7 in 2017, showing the increased demand).

• Teachers are overwhelmed with supporting their class’s mental health needs:

86% of primary teachers reported as being stressed, which is a 8% rise from 2022) (Teacher Wellbeing Index, Education Support, 2023).

In addition, they often lack confidence and competence to teach about mental health and wellbeing; Hamilton & Danby (2016) found that teachers understandably lack confidence in covering mental health due to sensitive topics and stigma.

WHO (2021:1) identified that teachers often report that they need support in fostering wellness in their classroom and in identifying and supporting students with mental health challenges.

• Mental health services are overwhelmed:

The Centre for Mental Health (2016) wrote a Missed Opportunities report: Missed opportunities | Centre for Mental Health that showed that, on average, children and young people with mental health difficulties go ten years between first becoming unwell and getting any help from mental health services. In this time, problems multiply and get progressively worse, eventually escalating into a crisis.

Therefore, schools are becoming more significant in addressing the MH of children than ever before.

• It will save you time:
It offers a pre-structured, comprehensive mental health curriculum, significantly reducing the time teachers need to spend on planning. It aligns with the Personal, Social, Health, Economic (PSHE) statutory and non-mandatory standards.
• It’s full of expertise-backed content:

It has been developed with my unique background in teaching and psychotherapy, providing credibility and depth.

I understand what the job of a teacher involves and can empathise and fully understand the challenges they face.

The CORE MH Curriculum is designed to meet the recommendations set forth in the NICE Guidelines (2022) on social, emotional, and mental wellbeing in primary education: ): Recommendations | Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education | Guidance | NICE.
The content has been designed to reflect the recommendation within the NICE guidelines (2022), such as emphasising strengths-based approaches to enhance self-worth, skills, and resilience and to use mindfulness or cognitive behavioural strategies.

• The sessions are engaging and practical:

The CORE MH Curriculum includes a variety of hands-on activities, games, and discussions that keep students engaged and motivated.

• It takes a holistic approach:

It covers a wide range of mental health topics, offering adaptability and ease of implementation, including use of the outdoors.

The CORE MH Curriculum emphasises emotional intelligence, resilience, and social skills, ensuring students are well-equipped to handle life’s challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

The ease of integration of the CORE MH programme into existing curricula is a key selling point for this programme.

• Early intervention is the solution:

Research indicates that 50% of mental health problems begin before the age of 14, highlighting a critical need for early intervention in mental health support for children and young people. Despite this, there is a significant gap in early prevention efforts. The CORE Mental Health Curriculum was developed to address this urgent need by providing comprehensive, early-stage mental health education and support.

• There is a growing demand:

Early intervention programmes, like this, are needed more than ever in primary schools due to the overwhelm of mental health services globally, driven by increasing awareness, destigmatisation efforts, and rising mental health concerns, exacerbated by factors like the COVID-19 pandemic which my programme is reflective of.

• It has a positive impact on learning:

Research consistently shows that children with good mental health are more likely to excel academically. By prioritising wellbeing, you can create a positive, engaging, and productive learning environment.

• It is a budget-friendly solution:

As a school governor, I understand the financial constraints schools face and therefore have kept the cost to a minimum with flexible pricing models. Please use the ‘contact’ form to leave your details and I will be in touch to discuss pricing for your school.

Please refer to the ‘Topics’ section of this website for the full details. 

Within the key themes of the CORE MH Curriculum, there are many topics that are covered, such as: 

• The importance of belonging, 

• how to cope with loss and uncertainty, 

• how to learn resilience, 

• how to increase self-worth and self-esteem by celebrating everyone’s uniqueness, 

• learning emotional literacy, 

• how to better regulate our emotions, 

• how to use nature to support wellbeing, 

• mindfulness techniques to keep children in the present moment, 

• learning about how our physical health can impact our mental health, 

• strategies to help with anxiety, 

• coping with social media pressures, 

• dealing effectively with bullying,

• having a positive body image

and much, much more.