A new school year brings fresh opportunities to support children's emotional wellbeing

Whether you're welcoming new pupils, supporting children through change, or planning targeted support for the year ahead, the beginning of term is the perfect time to revisit your approach to early mental health support.

The stormbreak break approach uses mentally healthy movement as a vehicle to help children recognise, respond to and regulate their emotions, developing practical skills that can support their mental health and wellbeing.

The Shine Pathways were designed to fit alongside the everyday work already taking place in schools. Rather than adding another programme to your workload, Shine Pathways provide a structured framework that helps trusted adults identify children's emotional needs, deliver consistent support and monitor progress over time. 

If you've used Shine Pathways before, the new academic year is a great opportunity to refresh your understanding of the stormbreak Approach, revisit the platform and make a plan for how you'll use Shine throughout the year.

1. Identifying children in need

Think about the children you already know may need additional support.

These might include children who are:

• finding the transition back to school difficult
• experiencing friendship or family challenges
• struggling with confidence or self-esteem
• finding it difficult to regulate emotions
• showing increased anxiety or worries
• needing support following changes over the summer holidays
• 
  
  2. Choosing the appropriate pathway

One of the strengths of Shine Pathways is that support is personalised to the child's emotional needs.

Before assigning a pathway, spend some time reflecting on what sits underneath the behaviours you're seeing.

Ask yourself:

• What might this child be communicating through their behaviour?
• What emotional need appears to be driving these difficulties?
• Which pathway would best support their current stage of development?

Sometimes, the first pathway you choose may uncover a deeper underlying need. That's perfectly normal. Shine Pathways are designed to support children's emotional progression over time, allowing you to adapt support as your understanding develops.

3. Make Shine part of your routine

To maximise the success of Shine Pathways in your setting, it can be helpful to weave the session into the support you already provide. 

Many practitioners deliver pathways during:

• ELSA sessions
• pastoral support
• nurture groups
• SEND interventions
• mentoring sessions
• emotional check-ins

Planning a regular weekly time for Shine helps build consistency and gives children something predictable to look forward to.

4. Involve parents and carers

Children make the greatest progress when the adults around them work together.

Shine Pathways can be shared with parents and carers to complete at home, but they can also play an important role throughout the pathway journey. Involving them before assigning a pathway helps build a shared understanding of the child's needs, while sharing the pathway summary enables key messages and strategies to be reinforced beyond the school day.

Keeping parents and carers informed, even through small updates about what a child is working on, helps create opportunities for meaningful conversations at home and strengthens the support network around the child, leading to more consistent and lasting impact.

5. Reflect and celebrate progress

Progress isn't always about completing a pathway.

Notice the small changes:

• a child recognising their emotions
• improved confidence
• stronger relationships
• greater willingness to ask for help
• using coping strategies independently.

These everyday moments are often the first signs that children are developing the emotional skills they need to thrive. Taking time to reflect on these successes also helps practitioners recognise the difference they are making.

Shine Refresher webinar

If you would like support to refresh your knowledge of implementing Shine Pathways, sign up for the Shine Refresher Webinar on Wednesday 11th November. 

Please sign up using this link: stormbreak Shine Refresher Webinar

Let's make this school year one where every child has the opportunity to SHINE.