Emotional Wellbeing Resources for Primary School Teachers
Promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of young people is very important for their development. It improves their life experiences and helps them in school and work.
Zippy's Friends
Zippy’s Friends is a programme for teaching social and emotional skills. It has been evaluated in Ireland and internationally.
The programme is designed for 5 to 7 year olds. It helps them to identify and talk about their feelings and explore ways of dealing with them.
Some of the topics covered are:
- feelings
- communication
- relationships
- conflict resolution
You will only receive the programme material when you complete training.
Teachers can attend either:
- 1 day in person training - suitable for all teachers.
- 2 hour online training - suitable only for teachers experienced in delivering SPHE to this age group.
The Department of Education approves substitute cover for in-person training.
Department Of Education Programmes
The following emotional wellbeing programmes for primary school teachers are available from the Department of Education
The Friends Programmes
'Fun Friends', 'Friends for Life' and 'My Friends Youth' are school-based anxiety prevention and resilience-building programmes.
These programmes help students to develop resilience. It teaches them strategies to cope with, problem solve and manage emotional distress.
Teachers can run each programme as a whole class programme or as a small group intervention.
Many National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) psychologists provide training to teachers to deliver the programmes in schools.
NEPS deliver training to teachers on programmes to support teaching.
Contact your school’s NEPS psychologist for information about programmes available in your area.
The Friends programmes - gov.ie
The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management Programme (TCM)
This is classroom-based prevention and early-intervention programme. It aims to reduce conduct problems and promote children’s pro-social behaviour.
The programme focuses on strengthening classroom management strategies using evidence-based practices.
Contact your school’s NEPS psychologist for information about programmes available in your area.
Referral pathways for HSE Mental Health Services
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) has set out a standard procedure for how children and young people are referred to CAMHS.