--- title: 'Breaking down barriers to learning' url: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/breaking-down-barriers-to-learning' markdown: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/breaking-down-barriers-to-learning.md' date: '2026-02-24' description: "Why talk about barriers to learning? In ”Let's Connect\" we've collaborated with Chickenshed, an inclusive theatre company that creates theatre, runs outreach projects, and education courses, whose aim is to create a society that enables everyone to flourish, creating work that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Good mental health starts with getting to know who you are and being able to talk about it with others. This is as true at school as it is elsewhere. Research suggests that learning can have a positive influence on your well-being. If you face a barrier to learning, it can get you down and make you feel alone. Being able to work out what the barrier is and asking for help is the first step to feeling more included and so naturally, feeling more positive at school – and in life. By opening up and finding your voice, you are saying “The way I see things is important, the way I absorb things is important, my perspective is important, my experience is important, please listen to what I have to say.” By giving children the tools and space to be able to tell us what they need, and listening to them, you are helping to create a happier space for everyone. Connecting is easier when we all feel confident that we’re taking each other’s needs into consideration." taxonomy: category: - Toolkit tag: - 'School Life' - ADHD - Autism - Dyspraxia - Dyslexia - OCD - ODD - Dyscalculia - Tourettes type: - Video contributor: - 'Samantha Wrightson' partner: - ChickenShed --- # Let's Connect - Learning Barriers and Mental Health [ School Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:School%20Life) [ ADHD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:ADHD) [ Autism ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Autism) [ Dyspraxia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyspraxia) [ Dyslexia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyslexia) [ OCD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:OCD) [ ODD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:ODD) [ Dyscalculia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyscalculia) [ Tourettes ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Tourettes) [ ![Nip in the Bud](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/themes/nitb/images/logos/round-logo.png) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us "About Nip in the Bud") [ ![ChickenShed](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/06.about-us/03.partners/chickenshed/chickenshedlogo%20.png) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/partners/chickenshed "In Partnership with ChickenShed") Duration: 0h 2m 50s Published: January 2023 ## Why talk about barriers to learning? In ”Let's Connect" we've collaborated with [Chickenshed](https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/), an inclusive theatre company that creates theatre, runs outreach projects, and education courses, whose aim is to create a society that enables everyone to flourish, creating work that celebrates diversity and inspires positive change. Good mental health starts with getting to know who you are and being able to talk about it with others. This is as true at school as it is elsewhere. Research suggests that learning can have a positive influence on your well-being. If you face a barrier to learning, it can get you down and make you feel alone. Being able to work out what the barrier is and asking for help is the first step to feeling more included and so naturally, feeling more positive at school – and in life. By opening up and finding your voice, you are saying “The way I see things is important, the way I absorb things is important, my perspective is important, my experience is important, please listen to what I have to say.” By giving children the tools and space to be able to tell us what they need, and listening to them, you are helping to create a happier space for everyone. Connecting is easier when we all feel confident that we’re taking each other’s needs into consideration. --- Was this helpful? 0 0 Share: [ Previous Post](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/ptsd/ptsd-in-children-tips-for-teachers) [Next Post ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/overcoming-barriers-to-learning) #### Other Related Posts: ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/04.neurodivergence/03.dyslexia/how-to-support-dyslexic-children/dyslexiastill.jpg) ### Article: How to support dyslexic children [Article: How to support dyslexic children](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/neurodivergence/dyslexia/how-to-support-dyslexic-children) Understand what dyslexia is, recognise key signs in children of all ages, and learn how to support learning differences and build confidence at home and… [ Dyslexia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyslexia) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/04.neurodivergence/understanding-neurodiverse-children/crayons-how-to-celebrate-neurodiversity.webp) ### Video: Understanding Neurodiverse Children [Video: Understanding Neurodiverse Children](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/neurodivergence/understanding-neurodiverse-children) This film explores neurodiversity in children through real stories and expert insight - revealing how Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia shape learning, emotions,… [ ADHD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:ADHD) [ Autism ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Autism) [ Dyspraxia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyspraxia) [ Dyslexia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyslexia) [ Dyscalculia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyscalculia) [ Tourettes ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Tourettes) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/04.neurodivergence/reasonable-adjustments-for-neurodivergent-children-at-school/ADHDStill006.jpg) ### Video: Reasonable Adjustments for Neurodivergent Children at School [Video: Reasonable Adjustments for Neurodivergent Children at School](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/neurodivergence/reasonable-adjustments-for-neurodivergent-children-at-school) Neurodivergent children often struggle in traditional classroom settings - not because they can't learn, but because the environment wasn't designed for… [ School Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:School%20Life) [ ADHD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:ADHD) [ Autism ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Autism) [ Dyspraxia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyspraxia) [ Dyslexia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyslexia) [ Dyscalculia ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Dyscalculia) [ Tourettes ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Tourettes) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [School Life](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life.md) - Previous: [Overcoming barriers to learning](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/overcoming-barriers-to-learning.md) - Next: [PTSD in children - Tips for Teachers](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/ptsd/ptsd-in-children-tips-for-teachers.md)