School Workshops
New! Making the Most of Mental Health
Specially developed to tie in with the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week, “Action”, this whole-school, drama-based programme has been designed to support children in creating “toolkits for mental health” – and linking words to actions by celebrating them in rhyme. And we’ll send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems!.
Making the Most of Mental Health – Combining PSHE and Poetry! (Primary Programme)
Specially developed to tie in with the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week, “Action”, this whole-school, drama-based programme has been designed to support children in creating “toolkits for mental health” – and linking words to actions by celebrating them in rhyme. And we’ll send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems!
We all know that there is an epidemic of poor mental health amongst our children – and we all recognise the need to take action. This unashamedly upbeat day both celebrates good mental health and empowers pupils to explore ways of securing it. Making the Most of Mental Health can accommodate the whole of up to a two-form entry school in as single day, consisting of an assembly and workshops for every year group.
Assembly: The Traction of Action … exploring what we mean by “mental health”, sharing a poem promoting positive mindsets, demonstrating the benefits and power of good mental health – and introducing children to Dr Santiago Ramon y Cajal, the world’s first neuroscientist!
EYFS Workshop: Action for Someone Else … how do we feel when someone shares their toys (or their time) with us? Do we feel good when we share our toys too? Children will answer these questions through song and movement – before creating their very own collaborative poem!
KS1 Workshop: Action for Someone Else … what can we do if our friends feel – or even look – sad? How does it feel when someone is kind to us? And how does it make us feel when we are being kind? Pupils will explore these questions through a co-operative, drama-based game – then use their findings to work together on a class poem.
Year 3/4 Workshop: Action for Yourself … what little things can we do to keep our own mental health topped up? Where does exercise come into this – and what about relaxation? Can diet help – and is there anything else we can do? After working together on some “TurnAround Tableaux” to investigate these questions, children will collaborate on their Toolkit Poem.
Year 5/6 Workshop: Action for All of Us … what can we do to create a world where more of us have good mental health more of the time? What role might technology play in this – particularly smartphones, social media and AI? Working in small teams, children will be guided through a drama-based process to interrogate these issues, before combining their ideas in a unique collaborative verse.
It’s also possible to book Making the Most of Mental Health for specified classes or year groups – with, of course, longer workshops. And these longer workshops also see children creating their own Self-Care Handbooks!
Making the Most of Mental Health! (Secondary Programme)
Specially developed to tie in with the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week, “Action”, Making the Most of Mental Health has been designed to support students in creating “toolkits for mental health” – and celebrating them in rhyme. And we’ll send you designed and illustrated versions of all the collaborative poems!
We all know that there is an epidemic of poor mental health amongst our young people – and we all recognise the need to take action. This unashamedly upbeat workshop both celebrates good mental health and empowers students to explore ways of securing it. Making the Most of Mental Health workshops can accommodate up to 60 students at a time, in sessions lasting from an hour upwards – potentially allowing a member of our team to work with a large number of students in a single day. Workshops comprise three elements …
The Traction of Action … exploring what we mean by “mental health”, demonstrating the benefits and power of good mental health – and introducing students to Dr Santiago Ramon y Cajal, the world’s first neuroscientist!
Action for Yourself … what little things can we do to keep our own mental health topped up? Where does exercise come into this – and what about relaxation? Can diet help – and is there anything else we can do?
Action for All of Us … what can we do to create a world where more of us have good mental health more of the time? What role might technology play in this – particularly smartphones, social media and AI?
It’s also possible, of course, to book longer workshops for fewer groups. And these longer workshops also see students creating their own Self-Care Handbooks!
Mental Health Awareness Week
11 – 17 May 2026
Mental Health Awareness Week is annual event every May, where the whole of the UK comes together to highlight the importance of achieving good mental health. Each year, there is a key theme to drive focus on a particular mental health topic. This year’s theme is Action.
Find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week at; www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week
Workshop FAQs
How many pupils can take part in one day?
Making the Most of Mental Health can accommodate up-to 60 pupils per workshop – that’s the whole of a two-form entry school in just one day!
In secondary schools,we can accommodate up to 60 students at a time, in sessions lasting from an hour upwards – potentially allowing a member of our team to work with a large number of students in a single day
What is the format of the day?
We will work with you to plan a timetable for the workshops, to suit the number of classes you would like to include – and around the specific timings of your school day.
In a two-form entry primary school, with all year groups apart from Reception taking part in groups of up-to 60, the timetable might look like this:
09.00 – 09.20: (optional) Whole-school assembly, where your visitor will introduce the day…
09.20 – 10.00: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …
10.00 – 10.40: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …
10.40 – 11.20: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …
11.20 – 11.50: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
LUNCH
1.00 – 1.30: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
1.30 – 2.10: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.10 – 2.50: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.50 – 3.30: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.
In a one-form entry junior school the timetable might look like this:
9.00 – 10.15: Year 3 workshop, in the classroom…
10.15 – 11.30: Year 4 workshop, in the classroom…
11.30 – 12.00: Year 5 workshop, in the classroom…
LUNCH
1.00 – 1.45: Year 5 workshop (cont’d)
1.45 – 3.00: Year 6 workshop, in the classroom.
In a secondary school the timetable might look like this:
9.00 – 10.00: Session 1
10.00 – 11.00: Session 2
11.00 – 12.00: Session 3
LUNCH
1.00 – 2.00: Session 4
2.00 – 3.00: Session 5
Are there any technical requirements?
Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in each working space, so that pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint.
| Year Groups | EYFS-Y6 |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Poetry<br /> PSHE |
| Pupil Numbers | 60 per workshop (primaries) |
| Duration | Multiple workshops over one day |
| Space | Large space required |
Workshop Testimonials
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