In conversation: Introducing yoga into primary schools for children with additional support for learning needs

This event on Friday 6 Dec shared experiences and lessons from a project introducing yoga into primary schools for children with additional support for learning needs.

Event Overview

In the summer term 2019, a team including an experienced yoga instructor, support for learning lead and staff and researchers from the University of Edinburgh, embarked upon a pilot to introduce yoga into curriculum for children with additional support for learning needs.  The sessions were successfully delivered during the school day to 21 pupils weekly over an 8 week period.  They were funded by the Parent Council and the research, evaluated using a mixed methods approach, was funded by The University of Edinburgh.  

In this event we shared this process, so that our lessons learnt might aid other school teams considering a similar programme. It also illustrated the benefits to those looking for strategies to enhance the learning experience for children with additional support for learning needs. The event included a wide range of participants with interests in the topic including teachers, school management teams, councils, parents, parent councils, yoga instructors and researchers to hear from the yoga instructor, the research team, the support for learning staff and parents of the pupils involved.

Facilitators

Dr Sam Fawkner (Physical Activity for Health Research Centr)  supervised the research team and secured the funding for the research   

Niamh Hart, Yoga Teacher and Physical Activity For Health research assistant in The University of Edinburgh

Heini Löppönen is a local yoga teacher and a current PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. Her doctoral studies look at the psychophysiological effects of slow, rhythmic breathing on children's well-being in schools.

Caroline Phipps-Urch, Children's Yoga Teacher www.theyogacrow.com   

Course Venue: Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact

If you require any further information, please contact Steph Donneadieu (Professional Learning Administrator) at professionallearning@ed.ac.uk.