Biographies and autobiographies

Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explains the rationale for practising gratitude and runs through a gratitude exercise.

Teacher and author Andy Sammons (@andy_samm) discusses the mental health of young people.

Dr Sarah Bell is a qualified teacher and Senior Research Associate in young people’s public health at Bristol University Medical School. Here Sarah discusses the importance of mental health and wellbeing research in schools.

Val Payne has over 30 years’ experience in education and social care and Peter Harper is a former NHS consultant clinical psychologist. They are the authors of '50 Ways to Feel Happy' and volunteer for Action for Happiness. They explain why it is important to teach emotional wellbeing skills, and share a range of strategies.

Experts Tracy Godfroy and Hannah share their advice with teachers for identifying and responding to students who display unhealthy patterns of attachment.

With over 30 years' experience as an occupational therapist, Deborah Smith explores how you might identify a student with dyspraxia.

Hannah Snowsill is an occupational therapist with over 20 years’ experience working across the NHS, education and independently. Here she explores sensory processing in a classroom context.

Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explains the value of mindfulness and how we can teach it.

Safeguarding consultant, Sue Wheeler, shares her observations about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health.

Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explores the benefits of showing kindness, and how the smallest acts can make a big impact.

Aly Spencer is Head of ITT for the Fylde Coast SCITT. Here she shares her suggestions for fail-safe ways to get to know your students if you are a new teacher.

Aly Spencer is Head of ITT for the Fylde Coast SCITT. Here she shares one of her trainee’s teaching dilemmas, along with some tried and trusted advice on assertiveness.

Aly Spencer is Head of ITT for the Fylde Coast SCITT. Here she shares her creative approaches to managing low-level disruption successfully during your training year.

Helena Thomas is a PGCE Secondary English Tutor at Bath Spa University. Here are her ideas to help you establish a positive relationship with your mentor.

Andy Sammons (@andy_samm), author of 'The Compassionate Teacher', outlines his approach to managing the fundamentals of teaching for trainees.