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Mindfulness for schools
At Rachel McKenna Mindfulness, we understand that each school is as different and unique as the children within it! For this reason, we strive to flexibly deliver fun, engaging and informative workshops, lovingly tailored to all Key Stages by former school teacher, Rachel McKenna, to;
- increase resilience
- boost confidence and self-esteem
- show how it is possible to turn down the ‘mind chatter’ and live more fully in the present moment
- teach about Emotional Intelligence
- teach instantly implementable techniques for stress reduction and anxiety management
- develop a growth mindset.
Each session can be tailored to meet the needs of your children within school and differentiated across all key stages.
As a qualified teacher myself, I understand the pressures that go with every day teaching and the effect that this can have on health and wellbeing.
Helping children and teachers to embrace mindfulness is not only a rewarding experience but means our young people, and those that support them, have the best chance for a happy, positive and fulfilling life.
Rachel McKenna
Here's just some of the benefits of mindfulness for individuals and groups
helps to discourage distractions
promotes patience
staying calm
can improve grades
increases self-esteem
increases compassion
improve cognitive control
Key stage workshops
At Rachel McKenna Mindfulness, we understand that each school is different and unique. For this reason, we strive to flexibly deliver fun, engaging and informative workshops for all Key Stages to teach life skills in resilience, to boost self-esteem, develop a growth mindset and teach techniques for anxiety management.
We understand how precious time is within school and work to fit seamlessly into your busy day, working around core curriculum lessons. Each session is bespoke and can be tailored to meet the needs of your school and differentiated across all key stages.
We understand how precious time is within school and work to fit seamlessly into your busy day, working around core curriculum lessons. Each session is bespoke and can be tailored to meet the needs of your school and differentiated across all key stages.
Key stage 1
This workshop is designed to introduce Children in KS1 to mindfulness through a series of short burst activities, games and child friendly meditations. Children will be encouraged to tap into their calmer self and try to make sense of new feelings and emotions. Children will be introduced to tools they can use to help them calm the ‘fire in their tummies’ and understand their feelings.
Key stage 2
With a focus on remaining calm on the run up and during exam time (ideal for years 5 and 6). This workshop will guide the children through short meditations, discussion and fun interactive games and songs to help them to live in the moment, recognise the onset of any feelings of anxiety and how to manage these.
Children will be motivated and given a good dose of positivity and encouragement!
Children will be motivated and given a good dose of positivity and encouragement!
Key stage 3
This workshop is designed to help students who are finding the pressures of Secondary School life a little overwhelming. Balancing coursework, studying for exams and dealing with adolescent changes can cause immense stress and pressure for teenagers. The students work closely with Rachel to learn methods of stress management, mindful meditation and relaxation.
Small groups/weekly sessions are advised for KS3 for the best results.
Small groups/weekly sessions are advised for KS3 for the best results.
School Assembly Talks
Motivational Assemblies on a range of topics, such as;
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Self-belief and Motivation.
Self-Love and Self-Care
How to keep calm and collected in a busy world/stress management
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Self-belief and Motivation.
Self-Love and Self-Care
How to keep calm and collected in a busy world/stress management
Mindfulness for Schools - Teachers
‘Mindful Teacher, Mindful Child’ Teacher Training
As Rachel McKenna is a qualified teacher, she understands the various pressures and demands that go with teaching and the effect this can have on the health and wellbeing of teachers and support staff.
Our 'Mindful Teacher, Mindful Child' training sessions will involve an explanation of why we need to act NOW, the proven benefits of mindfulness intervention and practical mindfulness tools and techniques to use yourself and with your class; to create a calmer learning environment where children can express themselves in a more mindful way. Sessions from as early as EYFS.
Teacher Training and workshops can be delivered both in person and online. Contact for more information and a tailored quote.
As Rachel McKenna is a qualified teacher, she understands the various pressures and demands that go with teaching and the effect this can have on the health and wellbeing of teachers and support staff.
Our 'Mindful Teacher, Mindful Child' training sessions will involve an explanation of why we need to act NOW, the proven benefits of mindfulness intervention and practical mindfulness tools and techniques to use yourself and with your class; to create a calmer learning environment where children can express themselves in a more mindful way. Sessions from as early as EYFS.
Teacher Training and workshops can be delivered both in person and online. Contact for more information and a tailored quote.
Learn how to manage stress and reduce anxiety
Increase productivity and manage your workload
Understand how our brain can work for and against us
How to teach daily mindfulness to children
Use Mindfulness to teach the children resilience and boost confidence and self-esteem
Ongoing practice
Testimonials for Mindfulness for schools
We really value what our clients views are on our service. Whilst different people achieve and take away from each session is different and whilst we always ask for feedback on meditations and other practice, some were kind enough to give us a review after their session or programme and you can read some of them here.
Dr Shirley Thompson
Birmingham City University
Rachel Ashcroft was highly recommended to me as someone who could provide our students with regular mindfulness/meditation sessions. She has now been delivering for us since the start of the academic year 2019-20, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Her engagement with our students, from across all levels, undergraduate to postgraduate, is a sheer delight to observe: her communication skills are second to none. It is clear from the sessions themselves that she makes students- and indeed staff participants- feel comfortable, at ease and ‘safe’; indeed, Rachel exudes warmth and calm.
She is imaginative in her approach, as well as highly empathetic. Rachel is also prepared to go above and beyond to support the students outside the formal class: she has set up and maintains an online forum for us, enabling members of the group to stay in contact and, indeed, feel supported between weekly sessions.
Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
Following a Ofsted inspection at Great Bridge School, Ofsted provided the following quote in their report of the school, based on the observations that they made. The school have implemented school-wide changes taken from the Colour Your World training they received several weeks prior to their Ofsted inspection, to improve overall staff and child wellbeing, self-confidence and resilience. We are grateful to the school for sharing this direct quote from their report in relation to the service we provided in September 2018- CYW]
“….there is an ethos of care and mutual respect and a very positive learning environment. Pupils demonstrate self-confidence and a love of learning.”
Miss C Halstead, Headteacher
St Mary's RC Primary School
We were thrilled to welcome Rachel to our school and the morning was a huge success. She taught us different ways to keep calm and appreciate the beautiful world we live in!
Mrs T Robertson
Queen Elizabeths Grammar School
What a wonderful day with Rachel. Our Year 6 will really benefit from the workshops and so will the staff here at QEGS. Fun, informative, relaxing and engaging
E. Regan, Headteacher
Great Bridge Primary School
All Year 6 teachers and Headteachers know how some children will feel anxiety as they approach SATs. We all put in place opportunities to reassure but nothing we have done compares to the “mindfulness” sessions completed with Rachel Ashcroft. There is a visible uplift in the children’s confidence born out of their genuine self-belief. They also have a wealth of strategies for dealing with stressful situations from instant breathing techniques to deep, contemplative meditation – skills that will provide them with inner strength well beyond SATs week. We are all most grateful for Rachel for this work with our children.