Mindfulness at St Thomas'
At its most basic level, mindfulness helps train your attention to be more aware of what is actually happening, rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen. We learn to bring greater curiosity to whatever it is we experience.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
In more recent years, mindfulness has begun to be taught and practiced by Christians who recognise its connection to ancient Christian practices and its potential spiritual depth. Christian mindfulness often draws from the same practices that have been developed in the secular world, but with a spiritual emphasis.
This link to a short animation may help explain -
https://mindfulnessinschools.org/mindfulness-in-education/what-is-it/
Mrs Dellaway, through MiSP - Mindfulness in Schools Project, has trained to teach Paws b and dot b mindfulness across KS1 & KS2 and leads on Mindfulness across the whole school. Miss Dicker has trained to teach Mindfulness in KS1 and Miss Lockwood in KS2.
Mrs Dellaway will work and liaise closely with both teachers to implement and develop the teaching of Mindfulness across the school.
We teach Mindfulness as a tool for the children to use whenever they feel it would help them. We aim to teach the children strategies to support both their learning as well as their mental health & emotional wellbeing.
Below is a link to a short video which Mrs Dellaway shared with KS1 as part of a special assembly for Children's Mental Health Week.