Developing emotional literacy and resilience The Bounce Back

Developing emotional literacy and resilience The Bounce Back Programme

Why are we implementing this programme? Children need to develop strategies and coping skills to meet life’s challenges. They need to become resilient. Human resilience is the capacity of a person to address challenges and cope with adversity and hardship, and then return to a state of wellbeing. Research has shown that it is becoming harder for young people to bounce back from setbacks.

Reasons for this include: § Encountering a greater range of difficult and complex circumstances. § Sometimes being ‘over-protected’ at home § The need to be perfect § A sense of entitlement § Ignoring the importance of ‘negative feelings’ § Too much choice

Young people can be likened to springs or balls – They can bounce back!

Bouncing back Bad feelings always go away again Other people can help you feel better if you talk to them Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset Nobody is perfect – mistakes help you learn Concentrate on the good things and laugh Everybody feels sad and worried sometimes, not just you. Blame fairly 5 Accept what can’t be changed (but try to change what you can first) Catastrophising exaggerates your worries. Don’t believe the worst possible picture Keep things in perspective.

Bounce Back Aims To assist in creating positive, pro-social and resilient classrooms and schools To provide resources to enable staff to help their pupils develop the skills of resilient behaviour 03 November 2020

The Bounce Back Programme 1. Core values honesty, fair, responsible 7. Emotions Caring, kindness Positive emotions (broaden & build) Acceptance of difference Managing negative emotions Respect empathy Friendliness cooperation 2. Elasticity 3. People bouncing back BB acronym 4. Looking on Bright Side 8. Success Knowing strengths/limitations Goal setting, persevering, organising their work Meaning & purpose 9. Anti-bullying Optimistic thinking Bystander support Positive tracking Peer pressure 5. Courage Everyday courage Appropriate risk taking 6 Relationships Making & keeping friends Conflict resolution Assertive responding 10. Humour seeing the funny side shared laughter 03 November 2020

Pupil Quotes “It’s made it a better school because everyone is being kinder” “We are a Bounce Back school and it’s made us a happier school” “Makes the school a better place to teach & get ‘teached’” “It helps me build and keep my friendships” “The class as a whole is more of a team” “Pupils are more appreciative of the times when someone else helps them” “Helps us to solve problems together” 03 November 2020

What does this look like in a classroom? Whole School rules Class Charters Class meetings Good to be Green system Circle time Relaxation Together time