Music, Massage, Touch, Complementary Therapy: Strategies and Interventions to Support SEND Learners with Mental Health and Well Being

Most of the touch your learners get in a day is functional: being changed, moved, helped to eat. A few minutes of massage gives them touch that's there just to be enjoyed, and it's easier to learn than you might think.

You'll try an Indian head massage on yourself first, because you're no good to anyone running on empty, then learn a hand and arm massage to do with pupils in class. Skip the essential oils and use plain lotion. There's story massage for body awareness, advice on keeping to one piece of music so massage time feels familiar, and the checks to make first: contraindications, permission, and respecting a no.

It's taught by a special school teacher who is also a complementary therapist. One man she works with manages five minutes at a time on most tasks, and will happily sit through 50 minutes of massage.