ABSTRACT
This chapter by co-editor Sarah Seleznyov describes the action research project that formed the basis of the book. It sets the context of the group of schools involved, and outlines the design of the project, which was based on enabling teacher agency. The chapter describes how schools had an initial expert input, and gathered baseline data using tools such as the Leuven Scale, a school wellbeing survey and an assessment tool called ‘The Happiness Line’. Each school then framed a research question and planned how their work with particular cohorts of children might also influence whole-school practice. The chapter explores the importance of working as a group of schools, so that peers could support and challenge each other over the course of the project. It reflects on the impact of the work and concludes that relatively simple changes to classroom practice can make a huge difference to emotional wellbeing and mental health, and when implemented through an action research approach, there is a greater chance of successful implementation.
