School age resilience

Resilience: The importance of a universal and whole-school approach is cited within government guidance on supporting mental health and behaviour in schools (DfE, 2018): Schools are in a unique position, as they are able to help prevent mental health problems by promoting resilience as part of an integrated, whole school approach that is tailored to the needs of their pupils (p.8).

Anxiety may manifest in a number of ways in school aged children, including: 

  • Externalising/Disruptive behaviour which interferes with learning outcomes
  • Emotional over-reactions
  • Verbal/physical aggression
  • Internalising/Withdrawn behaviour
  • Social anxiety
  • Peer relationships difficulties
  • Bullying or Victim of bullying
  • Performance anxiety/Exam anxiety
  • Poor frustration tolerance
  • Low self esteem
  • Obsessive behaviour or rituals
Resource Pricing Stage Usage
Boing Boing’s Interactive Resilience Framework Free Primary

Boing Boing’s Interactive Resilience Framework summarises a range of ideas to supporting different areas of an individual young person’s resilience. It is based on the resilience research evidence base. The Resilience Framework is designed to be user-friendly and visually shows ideas under five headings – Basics, Belonging, Learning, Coping and Core Self – to help us think strategically and practically about doing things resiliently to support a young person. Within each of these is a selection of evidenced based ideas to draw on when trying to make a resilient move with a student.
Mentally Healthy Schools Free Primary, Secondary, Post 16

Mentally Healthy Schools helps school staff understand the many risk factors that may challenge and undermine children’s mental health. It also helps schools understand what they can do (on their own and working with partners) to help build good mental health and resilience and reduce the risks that can harm children’s mental health.
NHS ‘Five Steps to Wellbeing’ Paid Primary, Secondary, Post 16

It is helpful to consider the NHS ‘Five Steps to Wellbeing’ to guide discussion and help consider aspects of the young person’s life for example: 
Schools in Mind Free Primary, Secondary, Post 16

Schools in Mind is a free network for education professionals which shares practical, academic and clinical expertise about mental health and wellbeing in schools and FE colleges.

The network aims to translate research into practice by providing evidence-based, accessible information and resources that can be used to embed good mental health across the whole school community.  

When you join the network, you'll get an email newsletter each month sharing: