Supporting wellbeing through literacy teaching

We know that in schools and nurseries you will have prioritised wellbeing as lockdown and Covid-19 have disrupted children's attendance at school. You will continue to be conscious that the pandemic is presenting challenges unique to each child, impacting their personal and emotional development as well as their learning. With some children in school but many others learning remotely aspects of everyday life are subject to ongoing change that feel unfamiliar and unsettling for everyone.
Our research on children's literacy activity during the first lockdown has showed that both reading and writing supported children's mental wellbeing.
Taking in to account the five levers of the recovery curriculum, we’ve gathered resources and information to help you address the ongoing challenges that impact attendance and participation.
The activities are designed to allow children and young people to reflect on their experiences, and bond with classmates and teachers. They also provide opportunities to revisit and build on literacy skills, to strengthen learning. We hope they will support you to connect with pupils and your wider community, re-establishing both skills and enjoyment across reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Resources based on the Book of Hopes
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Book of Hopes - recovery curriculum resources
A collection of primary resource packs inspired by The Book of HopesDownload resources -
Wellbeing and Literacy: inspired by the Book of Hopes
Resources to support children's wellbeing and literacy developed in partnership with Place2Be.Download resources -
The Book of Hopes teaching sequences for Year 6 and 7
Our free teaching sequences based on The Book of Hopes will help teachers support students in the transition to secondary school.Download resources
More wellbeing resources
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My Dear New Friend
Writing letters for your local care home can help to combat loneliness among older adults while increasing pupils' motivation to write.Learn more -
Happy News Project
This Happy News project focuses on wellbeing and develops teamwork, speaking and listening skills and journalistic writing and reading skills.Download resource -
Back to nursery and reception: wellbeing resources
Easy-to-deliver resources designed to help children settle into the nursery and classroom environment.Download resource -
Mindfulness activities for early years children
Activities for introducing early years children to the concept of mindfulness, linked to the book Happy: A Children’s Book of Mindfulness by Nicola Edwards, illustrated by...Download resource -
Outdoor Activities to Support Communication and Wellbeing
Resources to support the delivery of early years sessions in an outside space. These activities are aimed at children aged two to five but can be adapted for other ages.Learn more -
Zone In: Write your lockdown history with poet Clare Mulley
Zone In provides activities for young people aged 13+, boosting reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.Learn more
Research and insight
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Children and young people’s reading in 2020 before and during the COVID-19 lockdown
This report outlines findings from our tenth Annual Literacy Survey relating to children and young people’s reading in 2020, in addition to findings from our survey of...Read report -
Children and young people’s writing during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020
This report outlines findings from our tenth Annual Literacy Survey relating to children and young people’s writing in 2020, alongside findings from our survey of children...Read report -
The impact of Covid-19 on the home learning environment
This literature review considers the impact of COVID-19 on families, and the implications for the home learning environment.Learn more