FAMILY TRANSITIONS
In-schools programme

FAMILY TRANSITIONS taster course TESTIMONIALS

“Having heart stones at my mum and dad's makes me feel like there's love everywhere.”

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“The sessions make me feel calm at school.”

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“Ocean breath helps me fall asleep at night when I'm not tired and I need to go to bed.”

“Having heart stones at my mum and dad's makes me feel like there's love everywhere.” • “The sessions make me feel calm at school.” • “Ocean breath helps me fall asleep at night when I'm not tired and I need to go to bed.”

We are rolling out our Family Transitions course as a 6-week in-school programme!

If you are an interested school, we’d love to hear from you to set up a meeting. Please contact us at hello@shiftwithin.co.uk

Why this programme matters

The Children’s Commissioner has called for more early intervention support for children who do not meet the threshold for CAMHS, including school-based support and access to early help hubs. Research has shown that separation and divorce can have lasting impacts on children's physical and mental health. According to the Early Intervention Foundation (2022):

  • Children of separating families are 1.7 times more likely to experience mental health difficulties

  • They are 1.9 times more likely to experience educational underachievement

  • Many face increased challenges in peer relationships

With 3.8 million children currently living in separated families across Great Britain (DWP, 2024), it is clear that tailored, compassionate support is urgently needed — not just for parents, but for children navigating these major life changes.

What the Family Transitions course offers

Our Family Transitions programme (see our attached course outline) helps children understand and manage the emotional and physical effects of change, particularly the family transitions of separation and divorce.

Using gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, alongside simple, practical information on stress and the mind-body connection, our Family Transitions sessions provide:

✔️Gentle movement for regulation & relaxation

✔️Breathing practices to manage worry & stress

✔️Creative activities for self-expression

✔️Confidence building tools for home & school

✔️Nurturing atmosphere to make new friends

Sessions are led by Tara, course author and lead facilitator. Tara brings a depth of personal and professional experience and holds qualifications in:

  • BA Communications

  • 200hr Yoga Teacher Training

  • 600hr Yoga Therapy Training & 50hr Yoga Therapy for Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Both facilitators Tara and Kim are fully insured, enhanced DBS checked, and experienced in working sensitively within small, close-knit communities.

Course outline

  • Week 1: Roots & Resources - Feeling Safe Inside and Out

    Theme: Establishing internal safety and understanding what happens inside our bodies during the fight, flight & freeze response.

    Discussion: What we can’t control Vs. What we can. What helps me to feel safe & loved?

    Breath: Bubble breath to explore fast vs. slow breathing for safety & calm

    Movement: Understanding how the body / breath / mind respond to stress using ‘My animals’: Tiger, Rabbit, Tortoise and Butterfly.

    Activity: Decorating heart stones- love comes in all shapes and sizes and we can bring it with us wherever we go.

  • Week 2: Changing Weather- Grounding the Body, Breath & Mind during Challenging Times

    Theme: Change around us and within us and how to ground ourselves through challenges & difficulties. 

    Discussion: Using ‘My Tree’ to help ground and support me.

    Movement: Tree Pose & My Butterfly

    Breath: Mountain Breath for grounding & calm.

    Activity: Noting down on ‘My Tree’ handout what keeps us rooted, what makes us strong, what we can grow and what we can let go of.

  • Week 3: Ocean of Emotion – Feeling All the Feelings As They Come and Go

    Theme: Emotions rise and fall like waves and are changing all the time.

    Discussion: Resisting emotions Vs. Going with the flow

    Movement/game: Learning how to surf the waves of emotion with Surfer Pose.

    Breath: Ocean Breath for regulation and calm.

    Activity: Creating calming ‘Ocean Jars’ to represent changing emotions, using water, oil, shells, glitter and stones.

  • Week 4: Wind & Worries – Coming Back to the Present Moment during Wobbles & Worries

    Theme: Finding balance when there are worries and uncertainties.

    Discussion: Using a ‘Worry Map’ to outline what we can do when we feel worried.

    Movement: Lotus Flower Finger Taps to bring us to the present moment. Eagle Pose for focus and balance.

    Breath: Before and After Breath.

    Activity: Creating our own Worry Dolls to tell our worries to.

  • Week 5: Fire Inside - Frustration, Anger & Inner Strength

    Theme: Healthy expression of anger, frustration & inner strength

    Discussion: Frustration & anger are normal emotions and how to notice the signals in our bodies & breath when we experience these.

    Movement: Thunder Claps to release anger and frustration.

    Breath: Snake Breath to cool and tame.

    Activity: Creating a Fire Lantern to remind us we can notice our body’s signals.

  • Week 6: I’ve Got This – Remembering What Supports Me

    Theme: Knowing who I am, remembering I have tools and practices within me to support me wherever I go.

    Discussion: Using S.H.I.F.T to build self-belief and trust.

    Movement: Heron Pose for freedom to express yourself.

    Game: S.H.I.F.T

    Breath: Lion Breath for confidence

    Activity: Creating a shield to remember favourite tools and practices.