Experiential Wellbeing: The Power of Relationships & Play (Online Summer Course)

Course Overview
Discover how play and relationships shape wellbeing in both teaching and learning. This engaging course explores how child-led play can be used in all class settings to foster wellbeing, social inclusion and nurture creativity.

This course delves into social and emotional development, the nervous system and attachment—offering insights into how these elements shape our interactions, experiences and relationships. This course aims to support teachers in reconnecting with their own playful side while gaining value insights to support their own personal development.

Finally, participants will be supported in devising a framework for creating a whole school plan based on Experiential Wellbeing to enhance social inclusion and in line with the Department of Educations 'Wellbeing Policy Statement & Framework for Practice.'

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the value of child-led play through the lens of wellbeing, social & emotional development and social inclusion.
• Explore how the nervous system works and learn to identify and understand the ‘Language of the Nervous System’.
• Identify the skills necessary to nurture a supportive teacher-pupil relationship underpinned by an understanding of attachment theory.
• Look specifically at ordinary everyday interactions to foster connection, emotional balance, resilience, insight and empathy.
• Support teachers in reconnecting with their own innate playfulness to foster social inclusion.
• Explore creating a whole school plan to promote experiential wellbeing in line with the Department of Education’s ‘Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice’, based around play and relationships (informed by educational neuroscience) in line with SSE.

This course runs from Wednesday 1st July - Friday 17th July.

Access to the course closes at 5pm on 17th July for all participants.

Please Note:
Registration is subject to availability. Access to courses closes at 5pm on the final date for each iteration as stated above.
There is NO FACILITY to change between iterations or to extend the time available for course completion. If you intend completing more than one EPV approved course this summer, you must fully complete one course before commencing another. This course is approved for E.P.V. certification by the Department of Education. Further information can be found in these FAQs.

Facilitator - Helena Walsh
Helena Walsh (MIAPTP, M.Ed & B.Ed). Helena is a primary teacher with 20 years teaching experience. She is an accredited child & adolescent psychotherapist, a play therapist, a tutor with Kildare Education Centre and a lecturer with Foebel & Hibernia Teacher Training Colleges. Helena is passionate about educating teachers & parents on the immense value of play for all ages. Her thesis explored how ordinary, everyday interactions can be used to nurture the teacher-pupil relationship.