Reinventing Classrooms - St Charles R.C. Primary School

The average UK classroom does not meet the emotional, mental health or wellbeing needs of our children. In fact, the typical classroom design and décor can increase feelings of anxiety, overwhelm and stress. I would argue that classrooms are uncomfortable spaces that are often not practical or functional. I am on a mission to create therapeutic, trauma informed classrooms that help children feel safe and that provide them with the right atmosphere (and furniture) they need to flourish. This year, I am working with a number of brave schools, who have handed over their spaces to me, allowing me to transform their average classrooms into therapeutic classrooms.
In this episode we are at ST Charles Primary School with Headteacher Clare Campbell who has asked us to transform her year 6 classroom.
The therapeutic classroom approach is part of our wider therapeutic school approach which is helping schools to understand why children struggle with their behaviour, how to respond and how to adapt policies, procedures, language and environments to truly put children’s wellbeing and mental health at the core of all they do. If children do not feel emotionally safe, if they do not know how to manage their feelings and understand their behaviour - then how can they flourish?
Clare has a doctorate in art therapy and has always believed in a therapeutic approach to learning to support the most vulnerable learners. Since the pandemic, she believes all our children have experienced trauma due to the lockdowns and parental stress, so the therapeutic classroom approach is a timely decision for St Charles R.C. Primary School.
Topics:
02:47 Art Therapy
04:11 Children's thought's on the classroom
05:20 Redesigning the room
06:06 Educational furniture
07:03 Classroom displays
08:10 Bringing nature in the classroom
08:32 Outdoor area
10:01 Taking on the Therapeutic Classroom project
10:35 Comfy chairs and sofas
11:44 Funding the project
13:29 Photo wall
13:44 Dining tables in the classroom
14:14 Criticism of the project
15:57 Clare's thoughts on the makeover
18:09 Shahana's final thoughts
19:43 Reveal day
20:42 Children's thoughts and reactions
Hear more from Clare:
Twitter @ClareCampbell7 - / clarecampbell7
Hear more from Shahana:
You can follow Shahana on Twitter @Shahana_tpc - / shahana_tpc
Learn more about our therapeutic teaching course: www.tpctherapy...
Read articles on therapeutic classroom approach: www.headteache...
Listen to our therapeutic teaching podcast here: shahanaknight....
Visit our website: www.tpctherapy...

[@Genshin4me]

Thank you for doing this to our classrooms!!

[@Genshin4me]

I’m a student

[@Riley1235]

This happened to my classroom

[@MakdaWogayehu-ru3yg]

𝐌𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥?