NHS Togetherness Wellbeing Programme

Unit Summary

Written in conjunction with NHS Togetherness, this unit helps children become ‘Emotion Detectives’, learning to name and recognise their emotions and notice where they feel them in their body. They learn to measure how big or small a feeling is using a simple scale, understanding that a little worry, for example, can be helpful but big feelings are best shared with a trusted adult. Children will learn the phrase, ‘Can you help me with this big feeling?’ Children are encouraged to sit with a feeling and process it by understanding and talking about it, rather than push it away, learning that all emotions deserve space. The unit closes by exploring how habits like sleep, movement, time outdoors and healthy food help look after both body and our minds.

This unit highlights the importance of children’s relationships with trusted adults in helping them recognise, express, and manage their feelings. Processing feelings together, rather than in isolation, helps children see that emotions are shared and manageable experiences, not something to navigate alone.

National Curriculum Attainment Targets

• The range and scale of emotions (e.g. happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, nervousness) that they might experience in different situations. Pupils should understand that worrying and feeling down are normal, affect everyone at different times, and are not in themselves a sign of a mental health condition.
• How to recognise feelings and use varied vocabulary to talk about their own and others’ feelings.
• How to judge whether what they are feeling and how they are behaving is appropriate and proportionate.
• Where and how to seek support (including recognising the triggers for seeking support), including who in school they should speak to if they are worried about their own or someone else’s mental wellbeing or ability to control their emotions (including issues arising online).
• The benefits of physical activity, time outdoors, and helping others for health, wellbeing and happiness. Simple self-care techniques, including the importance of rest, time spent with friends and family, as well as hobbies, interests and community participation.
• The importance of promoting general wellbeing and physical health.