Understanding Anxiety in Schools Training Course

Anxiety often goes unnoticed in the classroom. Research suggests that up to five children in each class may be dealing with anxiety. With effective training, staff could be better equipped to spot the triggers and offer timely help, supporting the emotional and academic wellbeing of young people.

Supporting a child with anxiety in the classroom involves a mix of emotional reassurance, practical adjustments, and thoughtful communication. Our anxiety training for school staff offers actionable strategies to help educators respond with confidence and compassion.

• Provide emotional support by encouraging the student to use self-calming techniques, allowing children and young people to bring a calming object into class or letting them check in with a designated staff member when they feel overwhelmed. Simply knowing that support is available can greatly ease anxiety.
• Adapting the classroom setup and schedule – this could include seating the student somewhere they feel safe and comfortable, assigning a designated buddy to help them navigate the school day or offering a discreet ‘break pass’ that allows them to leave the classroom when needed. It’s also helpful to give advance notice when routines are about to change so the student has time to mentally prepare.
• Adjusting how instructions and assignments are given – by breaking tasks and assignments into smaller and more manageable steps and offering written instructions in addition to spoken directions. For some students, it may be appropriate to exempt them from activities such as reading aloud if this causes them significant distress.

This is just a short list of some of the techniques explored further in Flexebee’s Understanding Anxiety in Schools course. The course aims to go into more detail regarding the different ways to help support children and young people suffering from anxiety in the classroom.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness or fear. While it’s natural for students to worry about many different things at different stages of their development, anxiety becomes a more significant issue when it begins to interfere with everyday life – for example, if a child regularly refuses to go to school, or actively avoids situations that make them anxious.

Our anxiety awareness training helps school staff understand the different ways anxiety can present in children and how to respond effectively and supportively.

Child anxiety can show up in a variety of ways. A child may struggle with sleep, have difficulty concentrating or become unusually irritable or quick to anger. They might stop eating properly, worry constantly, cry more often than usual, or complain of physical symptoms like stomach aches, especially when they're anxious about going to school or facing particular challenges.

Our Understanding Anxiety in schools training course teaches your staff how to recognise child anxiety symptoms and understand what they mean and how to respond in a classroom environment. Get in touch with our team today to book your course.

If a child is feeling anxious about school, the first step is to gently ask them what's bothering them and to listen without judgement. Establishing a predictable daily routine can help reduce uncertainty and stress. It’s also helpful to talk about how they manage their anxiety, whether it’s through music, drawing, writing or another calming activity. Some children feel more secure if they bring something from home with them or write their worries down in a notebook as a way of expressing and processing how they feel.

These practical, everyday techniques are a key focus in our anxiety awareness courses for education professionals, offering valuable insight into how best to support young people dealing with anxiety in school settings.