The Child’s Voice
Helping children talk and express their feelings about what is happening in their lives is central to the whole Hamish & Milo approach – time to share experiences, develop empathy and friendships in a small group environment of safety, value and belonging.
“They just wouldn’t speak this freely in a busy classroom.”
The environment and sense of psychological safety that the small group and context of the intervention offers, allows children to really express themselves and feel heard and through our child voice questionnaires, children are given the means to share their thoughts and feelings and to reflect on their experiences.
Within a whole school context, it is essential that children feel listened to and have a sense of agency in their lives. Giving children opportunities to feel heard and valued is essential in creating wellbeing cultures in schools, as well as being vital for mental health, relationships and social and emotional development.
“Pupil voice in schools means a whole-school commitment to listening to the views, wishes and experiences of all children and young people. It means placing value on what children and young people tell school staff about their experiences.”¹
Multiple factors can mask a child’s voice and capacity to be heard and this can range from fear of not being listened to, a lack of opportunity to talk about their experiences, compliance within adult expectations and boundaries, lack of confidence or belief in themselves as well as uncomfortable and often unconscious feelings due to adverse childhood experiences.
Our child’s voice questionnaire is an opportunity to capture a sense of where a child is at prior to one of the Hamish & Milo wellbeing intervention groups and then show the difference in their perception of what has changed, any new feelings and the development of self-awareness. The child’s voice questionnaires are child friendly and create a visual expression of their experience of their social and emotional journey.
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What I liked about being in the group: "Sock puppets and using them to talk."
What I have learned about myself is: "I am not sure. I am good at some things I didn't know I was."Wordsworth Primary
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What I liked about being in the group: "Making my sock puppet, and spending time in the sensory room learning how to help me be calm."
What I have learned about myself is: "I can talk about my worries if I want to. Its OK to have worries."Frome Valley CE First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Everything. The people, the activities and the teacher."
What I have learned about myself is: "Things I am good at and things I can do."Frome Valley CE First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Our puppets and the things we do."
What I have learned about myself is: "I am brave and more happy now because of the group."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "I liked making a memory jar."
What I have learned about myself is: "I learnt about loss about daddy."Gloucestershire Learning Alliance
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What I liked about being in the group: "Everything."
What I have learned about myself is: "I sometimes feel angry but it will go."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "I could talk more because it wasn't lots of children. I could do funny things and be more like me."
What I have learned about myself is: "I can help to stop my worries by using my worry jar and talking to people who will listen."Frome Valley CE First School
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“I have enjoyed Hamish & Milo very much! It has been really fun. It has been really helpful towards my well-being. I am more confident. I enjoyed spending my time with Mrs Naeem. I will miss doing Hamish & Milo”
Year 6, Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Bury
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What I liked about being in the group: "Sock puppets, it's like having a new friend."
What I have learned about myself is: "I'm still amazing."Wordsworth Primary
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“We did fun activities and we learnt how to manage arguments with our friends. It helped me to realise it isn’t just me who has problems with my friends. I made new friends, even with someone who never liked me, but now we are real friends because we got to know each other in the group.”
Rowanfield Infant & Junior School, Gloucestershire
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What I liked about being in the group: "Puppets."
What I have learned about myself is: "To ask for help."Milborne First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Being with new friends."
What I have learned about myself is: "I believe in myself."Damers First School
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“My sock puppet is who helps me.”
Lytchett Matravers Primary School, Dorset
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“I have enjoyed making all the things in the Hamish & Milo club, as well as making the puppets. I had a lot of fun and I feel more confident in school.”
Year 5, Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, Bury
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What I liked about being in the group: "Doing the activities and displaying the work."
What I have learned about myself is: "I can talk to my friends about how I feel."Wordsworth Primary
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What I didn’t like about being in the group: "Sadness of others when they didn't feel good about themselves."
What I have learned about myself is: "Good at facing my fear, being helpful and kind."Wordsworth Primary
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What I liked about being in the group: "That we talk about our feelings."
What I have learned about myself is: "I am a good person."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Being with my new friends."
What I have learned about myself is: "I am brave and strong."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Learning about friendships that has helped me and my friends. Also liked doing the activities."
What I have learned about myself is: "I can use my words to help sort out issues."Wordsworth Primary
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What I liked about being in the group: "Having fun with just a few people, where i could talk about me for an afternoon. My favourite part was making my worry jar and my sock puppet."
What I have learned about myself is: "I can talk about my worries and I have learnt different ways to keep myself calm."Frome Valley CE First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "It helped me calm myself."
What I have learned about myself is: "Its OK to be sad."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "Using my sock puppet."
What I have learned about myself is: "I am an outstanding learner."Malvin's Close Academy
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What I liked about being in the group: "Making things and playing games."
What I have learned about myself is: "I need to talk about my feelings and it is ok to cry."Gloucestershire Learning Alliance
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What I liked about being in the group: "Could do the same as everyone else."
What I have learned about myself is: "Im kind."Frome Valley CE First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "It is a calm space. It is fun."
What I have learned about myself is: "There are people here for me."Damers First School
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What I liked about being in the group: "That I can communicate with my friends about my feelings."
What I have learned about myself is: "That I have respect for family, friends and school."Malvin's Close Academy
The children are also encouraged to draw themselves
