Emotions Face Fan

The Emotions Fan is an excellent resource for children who have communication difficulties or are learning English as an additional language. With its colourful design, this fan helps children to visually express a variety of emotions, making it a great tool for classrooms, speech and language intervention sessions, individuals with SEMH needs, or at home.

Each of the 10 petals represents a different emotion, and the thoughtful use of colour provides an added layer of association, helping children to link feelings with visual cues. It’s a simple, yet effective way to help children articulate how they feel, even when words might be difficult for them.

The fan’s double-laminated finish ensures durability, which is perfect for regular use, and its compact size (125mm tall by 45mm at the widest point) means it’s easy to carry around. I especially liked that it’s available with a choice of popper, keyring, or lanyard, so it can be attached to bags, belts, or lanyards for easy access.

Overall, the Emotions Fan is a fantastic addition to any toolkit aimed at supporting children with communication needs.

My Toolbox of Wellbeing Journal

My Toolbox of Wellbeing Journal is a fantastic resource designed for children and teens (ages 8-14) to help them develop emotional, physical, and cognitive wellbeing. Through a variety of creative activities, including mindfulness, affirmations, and gratitude exercises, young readers can explore self-regulation, stress management, and reframing negative thoughts. 

There’s plenty of evidence showing that journaling can significantly support mental health. The benefits include boosting emotional wellbeing, helping to capture reflections, managing or reducing stress, and improving self-confidence and social connections. Journaling also helps us process challenges, negative feelings, or difficult experiences, making it an effective tool for overall mental and emotional resilience.  

With its fun and approachable style and beautiful mindfulness colourings, the journal encourages self-expression and helps build lifelong tools for mental health. It’s a great tool for developing resilience, creativity, and a positive mindset in young people – there’s lots of useful tips, such as the sleep checklist and reflection opportunities, such as prompts to challenge negative thinking, that would resonate with and be helpful for adults as well! 

Bumper Blob Education Collection

The Bumper Blob Education Collection is an essential tool for anyone working with children, from teachers and SENCOs to educational psychologists and therapists. This thoughtfully curated collection brings the much-loved Blob characters to life, offering a powerful way to explore feelings, emotions, and social dynamics with students in a visual, accessible format. The inclusion of relatable and sometimes challenging scenarios like “Wet Play Day” or “Fire Practise” makes this book both engaging and incredibly relevant to the school environment.

What sets this collection apart is its ability to spark meaningful conversations. The Blob images, used as discussion starters or lesson frameworks, open up an avenue for children to reflect on their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in a safe, non-judgmental way. Whether you’re using the Blob Tree sheets, emotional intelligence resources, or the Blob Pitch Game, there’s something for every age group and learning style. The curriculum assessment tools are an excellent addition, allowing students to self-assess their progress in a visual and reflective manner, making this a truly comprehensive resource.

One of the standout features is the guidance provided on asking sensitive and thoughtful questions—a key skill when working with children who may struggle to express their emotions or navigate complex social situations. These tips enhance the useability of the book, ensuring that it’s not just a set of worksheets but an emotional literacy toolkit.

Contents include:

• Introduction
• School Sheets
• Blob Pupil Cards
• Blob Tree Sheets
• Emotional Intelligence Sheets
• Blob Pitch Game
• General Sheets
• Curriculum Assessment Sheet

The Bumper Blob Education Collection is invaluable for anyone seeking to create a supportive and emotionally intelligent classroom. Whether used for one-to-one sessions or group discussions, these materials promote communication, self-awareness, and emotional growth. If you’re looking for a fresh approach to helping children understand and express their feelings, this book is a must-have. Highly recommended!

Understanding & Supporting Children & Young People with Emotionally Based School Avoidance

Tina Rae’s Understanding & Supporting Children & Young People with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is an indispensable resource for parents, educators, and professionals working with children struggling with anxiety-related school avoidance. Published recently in December 2020, this practical toolkit stands out for its comprehensive approach, blending evidence-based theory with actionable strategies tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners.
The book provides a clear overview of EBSA, explaining how it differs from truancy and emphasising the importance of identifying triggers and underlying anxieties. With an accessible and user-friendly tone, Tina addresses the complex, systemic nature of EBSA, highlighting the need for collaboration between caregivers, schools, and the children themselves. The inclusion of checklists, support plans, and intervention frameworks makes the book particularly useful for immediate application at school and at home.
The toolkit’s breadth is another highlight, offering strategies rooted in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, and Emotion Coaching. The wide range of practical resources—such as worry plans, affirmation cards, visualisations, and calm boxes—caters to both younger children and teenagers. The strategies are adaptable for older age groups. The book also encourages a compassionate approach, empowering parents and educators to be patient and supportive.
Overall, Tina’s book is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand and support children with EBSA. With its practical tools, empathetic tone, and timely insights, this book is a must-read for parents, educators, and mental health professionals alike. Whether you’re a parent feeling isolated in your child’s struggles or a professional seeking effective strategies, this toolkit offers invaluable guidance to develop understanding of EBSA and help children return to school successfully.

The Behaviour Toolbag 

The Behaviour Toolbag is a must-have for any teacher or professional seeking practical strategies to support children who are dysregulated in school. This comprehensive guide is packed with tried-and-tested techniques to help maintain positive behaviour while addressing concerns through clear, actionable interventions. The authors, John and Sonia Murray, combine their 75 years of professional experience, offering insights into school-based, social, and emotional influences on behaviour.

The book provides an easy-to-follow structure, with sections on identifying behaviour concerns that can be changed, adapting strategies to individual needs, and managing your own emotional responses as a practitioner. It’s clear, thoughtful, and full of real-life examples and reflection opportunities, ensuring teachers feel supported in applying these strategies in everyday situations.

Each chapter includes quotes, checklists, and case studies that illustrate effective behaviour support approaches. With templates for behaviour plans, worksheets, and handouts, it’s designed for practical application in schools but is also valuable for parents navigating behaviour issues at home.

Highly recommended by SEN practitioners (including SEN magazine), The Behaviour Toolbag offers a pupil-centred approach to tackling behaviour challenges. It emphasises the importance of relationships, setting achievable targets, and creating a supportive culture for both students and staff. I particularly appreciated the references to attachment theory and the recognition of the important part that teachers play in influencing the pupils in their care. This book equips professionals with an array of tools to make a real difference in supporting behaviour in class and school.

The ASD Girls’ Wellbeing Toolkit

“This fantastic resource has been widely praised for its practical and evidence-based approach to supporting the mental, physical, and emotional health of girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). With increasing awareness of the need for proper diagnosis and support for autistic girls, this toolkit steps in with a 30-session program covering mental health, relationships, communication, and wellbeing strategies.

The structure is divided into three sections—”Me & My Mental Health,” “Relationships & Communication Skills,” and “My Toolkit for Wellbeing & Future Health”—each filled with ASD-friendly activities that use clear language, concrete examples, role-play, and reinforcement. This ensures that girls develop important skills like emotional resilience, autonomy, and self-awareness.

What sets this resource apart is its focus on providing a holistic approach to mental health and personal safety, helping girls manage their wellbeing and navigate relationships. There’s also a comprehensive PowerPoint training for staff to ensure effective implementation.

Overall, the reviews are glowing—calling it an essential tool for professionals working with ASD girls, particularly in the area of mental health and wellbeing. It’s described as a “must-have” with practical applications, empowering strategies, and a strong focus on personal development. Highly recommended for anyone looking to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of ASD girls! My favourite activities in the book are the future planning templates and I particularly like the way that the book encourages girls to develop their sense of self.

Perfect for schools, therapists, and SEN practitioners, this is a toolkit that stands out for its thoughtful, structured approach.”