Prima(r) Achtsame Schulen schaffen!

With this project, we want to make a contribution to overcoming barriers to learning in educationally disadvantaged groups. We are particularly targeting pupils from families with mental health pr...

With this project, we want to make a contribution to overcoming barriers to learning in educationally disadvantaged groups. We are particularly targeting pupils from families with mental health problems, who often take on the role of young carers. In order to achieve this, we provide training for teachers who will be able to offer teaching units on mental illness and resilience development in primary schools and be available as contact persons for pupils at risk in the future. A further goal is the development of a long-term mindful school culture with regard to the mental stress of pupils. Measurable sub-goals are defined and collected via questionnaire assessments (pre/post): - Improvement of information on mental health among teachers and students - Information on resilience development and self-care - Reduction of stigmatisation and exclusion of students with increased risks - Development of a continuous offer for all students

At the Barcelona, Reykjavik, Berlin and in the region of Vienna locations, qualifications were offered both in the sense of "awareness raising" for the entire school and further qualification programmes were carried out for a core team formed at the respective school. Subject teachers from this core team used materials provided and further developed by the partner consortium for 3rd and 4th grades in their lessons. An evaluation was carried out via a questionnaire survey and a focus group discussion with the teachers, with the University of Oldenburg in charge of the evaluation in each case. All schools also implemented a further mindful school programme, e.g. by installing multifamily groups together with the school staff. These groups continue as a long lasting effect of culture change even after the end of the funding period.

The planned measures were successfully implemented at all four locations, and the evaluations carried out indicate a high level of acceptance and effectiveness of the implemented content. At another primary school, which also took part in the project at short notice, a parent-pupil-teacher café was permanently installed as just one component of the establishment of a mindful school culture, which is very popular. Positive networking effects with municipal stakeholders (e.g. the school psychology service) were achieved at most locations. At the Barcelona site, the project won a regional health award. A manual for the stabilisation and dissemination of the approach was created and published digitally. Further specialist publications were made at the 1st European Congress on Multifamily Work in Potsdam in September 2023 and at the INPACT conference. 2023 in Lisboa.