An Anxious Child is not a Learning Child!

Course introduction

Practical Strategies to Understand and Support Anxiety in Children and Young People

Course Description

Across the UK, schools are reporting a sharp rise in anxiety-related difficulties among children and young people and the effects on attendance, engagement, and learning are undeniable.
According to the NHS (2023), one in five children aged 8–16 now has a probable mental health disorder, with anxiety-related issues the most common. Meanwhile, DfE data (2024) shows that persistent absence is strongly correlated with emotional distress, particularly anxiety about school, peers and performance.

An anxious child is not a learning child, as anxiety interferes with working memory, reduces motivation, and can lead to avoidance behaviours that manifest as disengagement or low attendance. Supporting anxious learners is therefore not just a wellbeing issue it’s a learning and achievement priority.

This half day practical training equips participants with evidence-based understanding and strategies to identify, support and reduce anxiety in children and young people. Participants will leave with a toolkit of approaches to help self-regulate, re-engage and re-connect with learning.

Would you like to book in-house training?
Contact us today and speak to one of our team.

What we will cover throughout the day

Understand what anxiety is, how it develops, and the ways it affects wellbeing, behaviour, attendance and learning.
Recognise the signs, symptoms, and triggers of anxiety including the post-pandemic rise in school avoidance, social anxiety and performance-related stress.
Explore the neuroscience behind anxiety to understand how it disrupts attention, motivation and memory in the classroom.
Apply evidence-based strategies to reduce anxiety, create emotionally safe learning environments and re-engage anxious or reluctant learners.
Collaborate effectively with parents, carers, and specialist agencies, leaving with a practical toolkit of strategies and resources to support anxious children and young people.

Target audience

Aimed at anyone who works directly or indirectly with students and who wants to understand anxiety in more detail and learn ways to help support students. Ideal for school-based staff including teachers, head teachers, deputy headteacher, SENCo/ALNCo, special education teacher, school support staff, classroom assistant, mental health lead, educational psychologists, pastoral care staff and pastoral lead teacher.

As well as multidisciplinary teams i.e. looked after children, foster care, adoption agencies, social services.

Trainers for this course

Nicola S. Morgan

BAEd QTS

Nicola S. Morgan is an multi award-winning TEDx and keynote speaker, international education consultant, author and teacher with over twenty-eight years’ experience working in a variety... of education settings. During this time, she has developed a reputation for successfully managing the most challenging behaviour as well as motivating and inspiring staff to help implement long term and lasting change. Having failed hard and then successfully completed the English Channel swim solo she prides herself on specialising in two key areas, Resilience and Behaviour. A Certified NLP Master Practitioner, IVET Foundation Affiliate and Resilient Leaders Elements and International Values-Based Education Consultant, Nicola has worked with thousands of professionals across education reconnect with what they do best lead with clarity, courage and calm.

See what others have to say about us

Don’t just take our word for it, visit our social media pages for live feedback.

This course has been great in gaining understanding of Anxiety. Nicola has great knowledge and has great strategies to share. What has been really good is using the breakout rooms for us to share good practice.

An incredible day on the Anxiety Training delivered by @nsmtc! Super informative and took a lot away.

Fantastic training day! Interactive, engaging and lots of brilliant take-aways. Definitely recommend.

About the venue

Stay at home, get comfortable and enjoy our live interactive course via Zoom! You’ll receive the link a few days before the course date so you can get prepared (and excited) ahead of time.

Handy course logistics

The half day course will run via Zoom from 09:30 – 12:30, however, the trainer will be available 15 minutes before and after the course times to answer any questions.
You’ll receive mid-morning, lunch and afternoon breaks to re-energise.
This course is designed to be interactive and inclusive. We welcome questions and discussions throughout and we want you to be comfortable and stress-free no matter where you join us from!
Your course handouts will be emailed to you on the morning of the course.
Additional links and information will be emailed to you before and during the course.
This course is also available as an in-house / INSET training session at your school. Contact us for details.
Please Note – The cost is per person.
Please note – the early bird rate of £185+ VAT ends 28 days prior to the course date, after this the standard rate of £215+VAT will be charged.