Joanna Feast – författare

This book presents a practical and compassionate guide to embedding mental health into school life. It explores how mental health education can be integrated across the curriculum, tutor time and pastoral care, offering age- and stage-appropriate strategies that invite self-awareness and emotional literacy.Drawing on evidence-based approaches and psychological research, it equips teachers with tools to create safe, inclusive spaces where pupils feel heard and supported. Topics include understanding adolescent brain development, needs-led education, working ‘upstream’ and using language sensitively. The suite of detailed, inclusive and progressive PSHE lesson plans for key stages 3-5 is easy to follow, while accessible tutor time activities encourage further the promotion and protection of mental health. Staff coaching tools ensure adults develop their thinking and skills too. The book advocates best-practice, whole-school approaches that prioritise mental health as part of a thriving and safe learning environment.Whether you're a PSHE lead, form tutor or senior leader, this resource empowers you to navigate sensitive topics with confidence, competence, clarity and care. Ultimately, it champions the idea that mental health education is not an add-on, but a vital component of preparing young people for life, emotionally, socially and academically.

This book presents a practical and compassionate guide to embedding mental health into school life. It explores how mental health education can be integrated across the curriculum, tutor time and pastoral care, offering age- and stage-appropriate strategies that invite self-awareness and emotional literacy.Drawing on evidence-based approaches and psychological research, it equips teachers with tools to create safe, inclusive spaces where pupils feel heard and supported. Topics include understanding adolescent brain development, needs-led education, working ‘upstream’ and using language sensitively. The suite of detailed, inclusive and progressive PSHE lesson plans for key stages 3-5 is easy to follow, while accessible tutor time activities encourage further the promotion and protection of mental health. Staff coaching tools ensure adults develop their thinking and skills too. The book advocates best-practice, whole-school approaches that prioritise mental health as part of a thriving and safe learning environment.Whether you're a PSHE lead, form tutor or senior leader, this resource empowers you to navigate sensitive topics with confidence, competence, clarity and care. Ultimately, it champions the idea that mental health education is not an add-on, but a vital component of preparing young people for life, emotionally, socially and academically.

Have you ever wondered how a stick, fallen leaves or a puddle might encourage a child to look closer and explore? When combined with rich modelled language, high-quality interactions, and provocations that inspire play, these simple, nature-based experiences become meaningful opportunities for language and communication development.Within Nature Talks, you will discover the benefits of being outdoors to stimulate curiosity, support whole-child development, and provide sensory experiences that can enrich and nurture communication and language. This inspiring book shows how the natural environment can be used flexibly and inclusively throughout the year to help children to expand their vocabulary, practice social communication, and develop their language skills. At the heart of the book are 60 seasonal ‘Invitations to Play’, intentionally designed to support communication and language development through outdoor play. Each experience encourages children to explore and experiment in a way that is truly child-led and neuro-affirmative.With a wealth of ideas from mixing, stirring and creating concoctions to building, collecting and imaginative play, these thoughtful invitations draw upon the principles of schematic play to support engagement and develop communication and language. Utilising natural materials, alongside songs, rhymes and stories, this is an essential resource for early years and primary educators supporting children aged 0–5.