Children at Hillside Avenue Primary and Nursery School in Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk, are taking part in special relaxation sessions this week to help them manage stress and big emotions. From 9 to 13 February 2026 the school is running workshops to teach every pupil from Nursery to Year 6 how to stay calm and focused.
The school has invited Calm Cats to lead 30-minute sessions for all year groups. The workshops use a mix of movement, stretching and breathing exercises to help children understand their feelings and, the school says, improve their behaviour in the classroom. The sessions are designed to give pupils practical tools they can use as a ‘superpower’ to regulate their thoughts and actions.
The initiative forms part of Children’s Mental Health Week, whose 2026 theme is “This Is My Place,” as set by Place2Be. By learning these relaxation techniques the school aims to create a calmer classroom environment that supports children’s daily learning and overall wellbeing.
Ofsted’s inspection of Hillside Avenue on 27 September 2022 judged the school ‘Good.’ The school’s website also describes a “proud history of nurturing children,” and the sessions align with Norfolk County Council’s wider guidance and resources on mental health and wellbeing for schools.
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