A child’s mental and emotional health are vital to their holistic development, as it underpins their cognitive, social, and physical growth (NSPCC, 2024). To deal with challenges, regulate emotions, and establish healthy relationships, children need a strong mental and emotional footing. Resulting in children who can adapt and positively engage with others (DfE, 2021). Nurturing resilience in children is crucial for preparing them to manage stress, anxiety, and adversities, ultimately shaping them into empathetic, capable, and well-adjusted adults (Howard et al.,2020).
Children spend a third of their time, and a considerable portion of their life in education, exploring, learning and building relationships (DfE, 2023a) and educators have a unique ‘window of opportunity’ to influence how children develop (Howard et al., 2020). Teachers enrich children’s lives by offering early help, interventions, and nurture. Wellbeing is a way to support this by improving health, resilience, and guiding pupils towards a brighter future (Burrell et al., 2007).
Dance allows children to comprehend an artistic discipline that collaborates with other art forms and subjects. It provides skills in physical interaction, teamwork, problem-solving, observation, and evaluation of verbal and non-verbal communication of ideas and emotions. It cultivates connections, manipulation of space, musicality, and expression. Aside from these artistic benefits, dance also enhances self-esteem and confidence, broadens aspirations, and promotes physical health (One Dance UK, 2016). This study will investigate how dance impacts the wellbeing of pupils within Year 5 of a UK state primary school.