MindUP

MindUP - Empowering children through mindful practice based in Neuroscience

MindUP is a CASEL SELect Program

At Elm C of E we believe in developing each child holistically. We foster children’s well-being through education based in neuroscience and mindful practice. We believe that we can nurture happy, healthy children, creating a mindful culture that enables children and families to flourish.

To support us in this journey we are really proud to be working in partnership with the The Hawn Foundation to deliver MindUP, a highly acclaimed school-based framework that teaches children the critical knowledge and skills they need to strengthen their mental health and emotional well-being through increased self-awareness, self-regulation and social and emotional competencies.

At the core is a 15-lesson curriculum, for each year group, based firmly in neuroscience, that teaches pupils across EYFS, KS1 & KS2, the skills and knowledge they need to regulate their stress and emotions, form positive relationships, and act with kindness and compassion.

MindUP is one of the most researched and evidence-based global programmes impacting children’s mental health. MindUP helps teachers create an optimistic classroom characterized by focused attention, gratitude, empathy, and connection to others. Our MindUP journey is designed to help pupils deepen their understanding of their own mental processes. By learning how their brains respond to stress and by practising strategies for quieting their minds, pupils become better at self-regulating, increasing their capacity for absorbing information, and improve their relationship skills.

We want all children to learn the tools and knowledge they need to thrive, live compassionately and be happy. We have trained every teacher and TA in MindUP and we want every home to experience the peace and joy that MindUP brings.

Key benefits

Improve pupil self-control and self-regulation skills
Strengthen pupils' resilience and growth mindset
Enhance pupils' enthusiasm for learning and academic success
Nurture empathy, kindness and compassion
Infuse your classroom with joy and optimism
Create a mindful culture across the whole school community

THE BRAIN BREAK - PAUSE. LISTEN. BREATHE.

It can take less than a minute to cue our minds to relax and focus. A short breathing exercise helps students quiet their minds, focus their attention and get ready to learn.

Teaching pupils to focus on and control their breathing can help them become less reactive and more reflective when feeling anxious or stressed. The more controlled breathing is practised, the more self-managed and mindful students can become.

At Elm we take brain breaks 3 times per day. Accompanied by a chime and the same script across the school for continuity.

Bring MindUP into your home by taking mindful moments together

Connect with your child by taking a mindful walk together, listening to the sounds around you, this fosters focused attention
Find time in your day to express what you are grateful for, this shifts our thinking to a calmer more content perspective
Join together daily in a quiet, focused breathing exercise - focus your attention on your breath, notice your tummy rise and fall as you take deep slow breaths to bring calm and reduce stress
At the end of the day take time to share with your child one or more things that went well today - this helps foster a positive mindset.