Halsall St Cuthbert’s Primary School
Ready to relax: mindfulness in the early years
Who we are
We are the EYFS team at Halsall St Cuthbert’s Primary School, Ormskirk. Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), particularly self-regulation and building relationships, has long been an area where our children need extra support.
We noticed that after lunchtime play, many children struggled to calm down and be ready to learn. This led us to ask:
Does implementing daily relaxation and mindfulness activities in EYFS support children to better self-regulate and build relationships independently?
What we learned
- Calmer classrooms: daily “Ready to Relax” sessions (10–15 mins after lunch) reduced dysregulation and created a calmer learning environment.
- Improved self-regulation: children began using techniques like breathing, guided imagery and quiet spaces to manage emotions.
- Better relationships: pupils showed greater empathy, turn-taking and independence in resolving disagreements.
- Positive child voice: children said sessions made them feel “calm,” “not wild,” and gave them “time to yourself.”
- Parent and staff views: parents noted positive effects, though sometimes rated children’s skills higher at home than staff observed in school. Staff saw clear benefits during play and learning.
- Progress for focus children: of five children unlikely to meet PSED goals, two moved significantly closer, with others showing noticeable improvements.
Why it matters
Mindfulness and relaxation aren’t just calming activities, they help children develop lifelong skills such as emotional awareness, resilience and empathy. Research shows these practices improve focus, reduce stress and support social interaction. For us, they have created a more positive and balanced environment for both children and staff. A child summed it up beautifully:
Just breathe. Sit on a pillow and relax.
What’s next?
- Continue daily “Ready to Relax” sessions with future cohorts
- Expand mindfulness into outdoor learning, sensory play and creative projects
- Provide staff with further training in delivering mindfulness confidently
- Explore extending these practices into KS1 and KS2 to build continuity across the school
At Halsall St Cuthbert’s, we’ve seen how small daily moments of mindfulness can make a big difference: helping children feel calmer, more confident, and ready to learn.