School Training
Understanding and Supporting Anxiety in Children and Young People
At Emotionally Healthy Minds, we recognise the increasing need for schools to feel confident when supporting children and young people who are experiencing anxiety.
Whether it’s generalised anxiety, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) or trauma-related stress, our training is designed to equip school staff with practical tools and deeper insight—so they can respond with empathy, clarity, and the tools they need.
On this page:
More than 500 children a day in England are being referred to mental health services for anxiety. This is more than double the rate than before the pandemic 1.
Why Focus on Anxiety?
Anxiety is one of the most common challenges children face, yet it often presents in ways that can be misunderstood—like anger, disengagement, or perfectionism. If not supported, anxiety can impact attendance, learning, behaviour, and overall wellbeing.
Our training helps school staff understand the roots of anxious behaviour and respond in ways that help students feel emotionally safe and better able to learn.
Training Overview:
Full Day Workshop
We offer a comprehensive 5-hour training day, ideal for INSET days or whole-school training. During the session, participants will:
- Explore different responses to stress and develop awareness of their own triggers and reactions
- Build understanding of what anxiety is, how it can present in young people, and how trauma can influence behaviour
- Be introduced to emotion coaching and how it can shape responses to emotional distress
- Learn a range of practical, relational strategies to support students with anxiety
Grounded in Research and Practice
Our sessions are built on both lived experience and up-to-date research. Emotion Coaching is central to our approach—an evidence-based practice grounded in neuroscience, which supports emotional regulation and resilience in children.
Who is this for?
Our training is suitable for:
- Teachers and teaching assistants
- SENCOs and inclusion leads
- Pastoral and wellbeing staff
- Senior leaders
- Alternative provision and specialist settings
Additional Support Options
Following your training day, we also offer a range of additional sessions that can deepen and extend your team’s learning or reach students and parents directly. Options include:
- Student Workshops: Interactive 60-minute sessions for small groups or whole classes focused on understanding emotional health and learning regulation strategies
- Follow-Up Teacher Training: 90-minute sessions to build on the initial training and provide further guidance and reflection
- Parent Workshops: 90-minute sessions helping parents understand anxiety and how to support their children effectively
- Consultancy Support: Bespoke 60-minute consultancy sessions with an Emotion Coach to offer tailored advice and guidance to your school or team
These sessions can be booked at any time, but we also offer a discount for those booked within one month of a training day.
Meet our Schools Training Consultants
Sarah Petherick
Founder and Director
Sarah has eighteen years of experience in education, alongside specialist training in counselling and coaching.
Having worked closely with children facing emotional, behavioural and academic challenges, Sarah understands that emotional wellbeing must underpin all learning. She is also passionate about helping schools embed this into everyday practice.
Sarah builds strong connections with families and educators, offering tailored, compassionate strategies that support emotional health alongside academic progress—whether in one-to-one settings or whole-school approaches.
James Hancock
Schools Team Lead
James brings twenty years of experience in education, having served as a teacher and deputy headteacher.
In his leadership roles, James has championed emotional wellbeing, been a Mental Health Lead, and facilitated the NPQ Leading Teacher Development course. As a Thrive Lead, he has also embedded whole-school approaches to wellbeing.
With a deep understanding of the realities schools face, James ensures our training is grounded in day-to-day practice—offering practical, relevant support that empowers educators to meet the emotional and educational needs of their students.
Let's Talk
If your school would like to feel more confident supporting children with anxiety, we’d love to help. Whether you're looking for whole-staff training or targeted input for students or families, our team is here to support you.
Bespoke Training Packages
At Emotionally Healthy Minds, we understand that every school is unique. If you have specific needs or focus areas not covered in our standard training, we are happy to create bespoke training packages tailored to your school’s requirements. Whether it’s a particular challenge you’re facing, a deeper dive into a topic, or additional support for a specific group of students, we can craft a training solution that works for you.
Schools Training FAQs
What types of training do you offer for schools?
Who delivers the training?
How long are the training sessions?
Can training be delivered remotely?
How do we know the training will benefit our staff and students?
Our training is grounded in the latest research on emotional wellbeing and packed with practical tools that staff can apply right away to support children’s emotional health. Reviews from those who have already taken our training speak volumes about its impact. We can also offer follow-up resources and ongoing support to ensure lasting benefits.
Is the training suitable for all staff?
Can you help us with ongoing support after the training?
Yes, we offer follow-up coaching, consultancy, and refresher sessions to embed the learning and address any new challenges your team faces.
How do we book a training session?
Click here to submit an enquiry and arrange a free Teams call with James, our Schools Lead. He will discuss your school’s needs and answer any questions you may have.
