Wellbeing

Today Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, will announce that lessons in emotional wellbeing and empathy are to be introduced in all state secondary schools. The initiative follows the success of the SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) pilot programme in primary schools, which was found to improve both academic performance and discipline by helping children to understand their emotions. Research by the Institute of Education indicates that the SEAL programme is also beneficial to teachers, by reducing stress levels and boosting their enthusiasm for teaching. Professor Susan Hallam, author of the study, said 'Children learnt how to express their feelings, manage their anger and empathise with people. They developed good manners, were able to play cooperatively and were more willing to interact with those from different backgrounds and cultures'. (Mail, 4 September 2007, p17; Telegraph, 4 September 2007, p6; Times, 4 September 2007, p3)

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