Positive Education in Primary Schools

Abstract

This chapter is on positive education in primary schools (including pre-schools), and how programmes that use interventions from positive psychology (PPIs) can have positive effects (academic and for well-being), on children in this age group (up to 11 years). It explores some of the key challenges of implementing PPIs at younger ages and why, compared to secondary schools, limited studies of PPIs in pre- and primary schools exist. Based on the author’s personal experience of successfully delivering a multiple PPI (mPPI) in a primary school in the United Kingdom, the chapter also presents a case study. In particular, a mPPI known as Hummingbird Primary, adapted from the Hummingbird Project which has successfully been delivered in high schools; see Chapter 3. The case study presents an overview of the mPPI, the impact it had and some of the lessons learned. The chapter concludes with recommendations for educators wishing to implement PPIs in a whole primary school setting.

Citation

McFaul, C. (2024), "Positive Education in Primary Schools", Tytherleigh, M. (Ed.) Positive Education at All Levels: Learning to Flourish (Positive Psychology in Practice), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 19-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-156-120241002