Anxiety in children and young people is more common than many realise. It can show up in subtle ways, such as a reluctance to join group activities, frequent stomach aches before school, or sudden difficulty concentrating.
For some students, these signs are temporary responses to new situations, but for others, anxiety becomes a persistent hurdle. According to the NHS England, over 20% of children aged from eight to 16 years had a mental health disorder. The proportion was even higher (23.3%) in the age group of 17 to 19 years.
The impact of anxiety on learning goes beyond the obvious. A child who feels constantly on edge may avoid challenges, withdraw from friendships, or even mask their worries with disruptive behaviour.
Left unaddressed, these patterns can affect both academic progress and emotional development. That is why it is so important for educators to recognise anxiety not as defiance, but as a signal that extra support is needed.
There are some practical ways that can help teachers and the school’s management support anxious learners.
Understanding the Roots of Anxiety
Children may feel anxious for different reasons. Some worry about academic performance, while others find social interactions overwhelming.
Teachers often spend more hours with children than anyone else outside the family. However, they need to understand the root cause first, but they might not have the right expertise for that.
In such scenarios, help from professionals, such as those who have graduated from a school counselling program, can be beneficial.
These courses, which support student mental health have become more accessible due to the internet. A masters in school counselling online can be completed remotely. Since all the coursework is online, participants can study it from anywhere and at any time.
Schools with the budgets, can hire such professionals to help understand the mental conditions of students. This can help them and the teachers make the necessary adjustments to the teaching environments.
Can anxiety in learners sometimes go unnoticed by teachers?
Yes, many children with anxiety are high achievers who hide their struggles by working extra hard or remaining very quiet. Their behaviour may not draw attention, so teachers need to look for subtle signs, such as fatigue, perfectionism, or reluctance to try new tasks.
Building a Supportive Environment
An anxious learner needs a sense of predictability and trust.
Simple steps such as maintaining consistent routines, giving advance notice of changes, and creating calm corners within the classroom can reduce stress. When children know what to expect, the classroom becomes a place where they feel less on edge and more able to focus on learning.
Routines alone can be a significant help to calm anxious minds. As noted in a Wiley study, routines can influence cognitive development in young minds. Besides cognitive functioning, they also help with academic skills, self-regulation, and overall mental health. The study also highlights how they can create a sense of protection in challenging environments.
Open communication is another cornerstone of support. Allowing pupils to voice their worries without fear of judgement helps normalise their experiences. It also builds stronger relationships between teachers and students.
This process doesn’t have to involve long conversations. Even small check-ins before a task or quiet encouragement after a lesson can make a noticeable difference.
What role does classroom design play in reducing anxiety?
The physical setup of a classroom can influence a child’s comfort. Soft lighting, reduced clutter, and access to quiet spaces all help create a calmer environment. When a child feels less overstimulated by their surroundings, they can focus more easily on learning.
Encouraging Self-Regulation
Helping children understand their emotions and develop coping skills is just as important as adapting the environment to support them.
Techniques such as mindful breathing, short movement breaks, or reflective journaling allow pupils to pause and regain control when they feel overwhelmed. These strategies are most effective when practised regularly, so they become tools students can rely on during moments of heightened anxiety.
Teachers who model self-regulation themselves also send a powerful message. When young people see adults managing stress in healthy ways, it normalises these behaviours and makes it easier for them to adopt similar practises.
There are many ways both parents and teachers can help kids understand and manage their emotions. Some of these include:
- Start early
- Build a secure and trusting relationship
- Talk and teach
- Model what you want them to learn
- Punish less and praise more
- Work as a team
Children who don’t attend school cannot learn to self-regulate from home alone. In such cases, the chances of anxiety can increase. According to The Guardian, a study found that school absence is a major factor in child mental illness in England.
What happens if self-regulation techniques don’t work for a child?
Not all strategies work for every student. Some may find breathing exercises ineffective but respond well to movement or art-based calming techniques. It’s important to experiment, stay patient, and encourage students to discover which tools feel natural to them rather than forcing one method.
Collaboration Beyond the Classroom
Supporting anxious learners is rarely the responsibility of one person alone. Involving parents and carers ensures that strategies used in school are reinforced at home. For instance, an NCBI study notes that if parents themselves are anxious, it will influence their children.
Parents’ education anxiety and children’s learning anxiety have a positive correlation. Therefore, teachers and parents should discuss addressing internal family dynamics to help anxious learners.
Similarly, collaboration with school counsellors or SEND coordinators allows for more comprehensive approaches. A joined-up effort can make the difference between a child who continues to struggle silently and one who feels genuinely supported.
In many cases, professional guidance will be needed to help families access specialist services. Teachers who take the time to signpost resources or initiate those conversations play a crucial role in breaking down barriers to care.
When anxiety is addressed with understanding and consistency, the benefits extend far beyond academic performance. Children learn that their feelings are valid, that they have strategies to manage them, and that there are trusted adults they can turn to. These lessons shape not only their experience of school but also their ability to handle challenges in later life.
Every small step matters. Whether practising a grounding exercise or listening with patience, these efforts help create a classroom where anxious learners feel safe enough to thrive.
By Helen Murry
Helen has been teaching secondary English for 3 years and is interested in student mental health.