North Yorkshire students encouraged to look after mental health during exam season
SATS have started this week, GCSE and A Levels begin on Monday
SATS exams are underway for Year 6 children in North Yorkshire, and across England, this week.
The results are used to measure school performance and make sure pupils have appropriate support as they move up to secondary school.
Next week GCSE and A level exams begin.
Lucy Baldwin is the head of children and young people's therapy service at the Retreat Clinics in York. She has some tips for students: "Develop a revision timetable that is realistic but also it is so important to schedule in time for activities that you do find enjoyable, that you do find restful, that is so helpful. Deep breathing really does work, the other thing is laughter, find a podcast, find a TV show, find a meme whatever it is, also one of my favourites is to immerse your face into cold water, we know that lowers your heart rate."
"Parents play an important part too"
Exam season is also a stressful time for parents and guardians. Lucy gives some of her top tips for anxious family members: "You are their biggest cheerleader, letting them know that you are there, you support them regardless and that you are proud of them, whatever the result, is so important during this period. It can be so easy to let the exam talk take over, but we would really encourage parents not to let this become all consuming, support your child to have balance."