myHappymind

2024-25 Impact Report

We are delighted to present our annual myHappymind impact report for 2024-25. All five modules for our first year of the programme were completed by the end of the first half term of 2025-26, with the annual report demonstrating excellent impact. Given the programme’s spiral and progressive structure and the continued reinforcement by staff and embedding of strategies such as ‘Active Listening’ and ‘Stop, Understand, Consider’, for example, this positive trajectory is expected to continue and strengthen over time.

Impact Report 2024-2025

myHappymind Bronze Accreditation Award

It is with great delight to let you know that we have recently been awarded the Bronze Accreditation Award from myHappymind, an impressive achievement having only started implementing the programme within the last six months. This award is testimony to just how well the school has not only embraced the programme, but shows strong commitment to supporting the wellbeing of the whole community.

It is very exciting that we now include an NHS backed, award winning mental health and wellbeing programme in our school curriculum. We launched myHappymind in January 2025 to support all members of our school community in understanding their own wellbeing and how they can employ strategies to support this.

What is myHappymind at St. Swithun’s?

The science-backed programme for schools is grounded in the latest research about what it takes to create positive wellbeing. It is taught to every child and there’s a curriculum for every year group from Early Years to Year 6.

The staff section of the programme includes a CPD certified staff wellbeing programme for themselves, designed to inform and inspire and which looks behind the science of happiness. Every member of staff has access to this. In addition, there is also access to mini masterclasses which supports with deepening knowledge and understanding of areas that children may find challenges, such as separation anxiety, emotional based school avoidance, managing big emotions and neurodiversity.

Parents and carers have access to the myHappymind Parent App, which encourages the embedding of the language and learning for children when they are at home. There are two main categories of the Parent App:

What’s my child been learning, which is delivered in bite-sized chunk video content supporting parents and carers to understand the science of what is being taught.
Activities at home – there are many different activities parents and carers can engage with alongside their child/ren such as breathing exercises, songs and stories.

Parents and Carers - to access the Parent App, please click on the link here or scan the QR code below. You will need to use the school’s personal URN code that was sent out via the myHappymind letter, emailed on 08.01.24. Alternatively please contact the office and they will happily let you know what this is.

What are the key philosophies of myHappymind?

The myHappymind programmes are underpinned by five key philosophies:

What will my child be learning?

The children’s programme is taught from nursery to year 6, every Monday morning. Over the course of a year, the programme covers five modules, which progress year on year for the different ages.

Lessons in the EYFS are based on storytelling and play, using some great resources including teddies and games.

From years 1-6, the content is more structured and follows a lesson-based approach, which are packed with quizzes, talk time, animations and activities. In addition, children will all have a journalling time using their own myHappymind journal, which is a space for them to log their learning, their own thoughts and feelings.

Year 6 are also supported with a 12 week/ session transition focus, and using the structure of the five modules, helps equip them for the move to secondary school. For this, there is an additional journal, which also doubles up as a wellbeing planner.

The impact of myHappymind at St. Swithun's

St. Swithun's has really embraced myHappymind, and has seen some great impact. Take a look at our testimonies from across our school community:

Children

"The different activities within the lessons, for example the talking points are great. We once had to choose a strength and apply this to a certain situation. We discussed how we would handle this."
"I like the quizzes at the beginning of the lessons, they help me remember what I have been learning so far."
"I love doing the happy breathing, as it makes me focused and calm."
"I love it when we draw pictures in our journals and then write sentences about our thoughts and what we have been learning. This really makes me feel calm and helps me reflect on what I know."
"Happy breathing makes me feel relaxed and helps me get calm and ready in the sessions. I like doing this lots."
"Everyone is unique and it has been good to focus on the different character strengths. As well as finding out about these for ourselves, understanding these in others helps build our friendships."

Mrs Knighton

"Feedback from staff and children indicates how much the children are not only enjoying the myHappymind sessions, but the holistic nature of the programme (for example drawing on character strengths within their learning). Children love receiving their weekly certificates, which are celebrated in assembly, and at the end of each module. They can articulate the science behind their feelings and strategies to employ when needed. Even our youngest children are explaining what is happening in their brain when they are feeling unsettled and they are using happy breathing to help regulate their emotions."

Staff Member

"Children are more aware of why they feel a certain way (understanding how their brain works) and they are more sympathetic towards others who might be feeling dysregulated. It supports the children to understand why they might feel or react in a certain way, and it gives them strategies to support positive relationships. I think myHappymind has given children a whole-school practical strategy to support them to calm when feeling heightened."

School Governor

"There is no question that the wellbeing of children at St Swithun's has improved noticeably since we started our myHappymind programme. As well as a very uplifting and positive demeanour throughout the school, we have heard first hand, through Pupil Surveys, how the children are feeling empowered, educated and supported in protecting and nurturing their mental health and wellbeing. We had 100% of pupils answer that 'my school encourages me to look after my physical and mental health'."

Parents/ Carers

"The impact at home has been good, my daughter uses happy breathing to help calm herself before bed. I would say she is more confident generally, and is more able to ask for help when she needs it. On the occasions that she gets upset she is able to take herself off and use the techniques she has learned to calm herself and see the situation from a different viewpoint."
"My child has enjoyed the Happy Mind learning at school and I'm amazed at how much knows about the brain and how to keep calm when things get difficult. She liked doing 'happy breathing' the best and says that she does some happy breathing whenever anything is worrying her and making her heart speed up. She has learned the names of different parts of the brain and how these make you feel."

"I signed up to the my happy mind website to see what my child was doing in school and to learn more myself! We love the videos and scenarios provided, and also the science behind how our brain's work has been fascinating. I have noticed that my child has actually been offering to help around the house a lot more this year, I had not linked the two until now, but I believe her my happy mind lessons might have contributed to this! She has talked about how much she loves doing the happy breathing in school, and she has also been doing this before and things she is nervous about, like Sports Day, or her gymnastics competition, to help her regulate her nerves and adrenaline. It's an excellent programme, my child really looks forward to the lessons."

My Happy Mind Book

To delve deeper finding out more about myHappymind, Founder, Laura Earnshaw, has written a bestselling book ‘My Happy Mind’, which reveals the science behind the programme and to empower and educate parents and carers. This book is available from Amazon here or we have some copies available at school should you wish to borrow. Please see reception about this.