This resource can be used as a means of self-assessment by SEN and/or SEMH students. Ideally these should be done once every 6 weeks as a way to monitor students opinions of 5 different areas. Data collected can then be added to a spreadsheet and show which areas the students believe they need more help/support in.

This resource is aimed at students in both Primary and Secondary education. The first page is for the students to add their ‘worst case scenario’ anxious thoughts. They add these to the tornado and talk through the most intense anxious thoughts that they process when presented with particular events. They then use the second sheet ‘The calm after the storm’, to really look at those intense anxious thoughts and change them to more realistic ideas. For example, if they were to put ‘If I stand up to read out loud infront of the class, I will stutter my words and go really red, then everyone will laugh at me.’ - Tornado Thought ‘Standing infront of everyone is scary but others will have done it before me or will be doing it after me, if I stutter, I can take a breath and collect myself. If people laugh, I’m sure others will be feeling like I am.’

This resource is intended to be used by students across Primary and Secondary, to allow them to identify where in their body they feel anxiety during an average day. The idea is to use various colours to highlight where and what happens to their body when they feel anxious. For example, you would give a scenario, such as ‘having to read out loud in class’ and the student would, for example, colour their ‘hands’ in red, noting alongside that they would be sweaty. The template works best when printed off and used in small groups, possibly during interventions to improve mental health and well being. Students can also adapt their ‘bodies’ to suit and use any colour or style that fits with what they want to portray.