🌟 Poetry for SEMH & EBD Learners | Confidence, Identity & Emotional Expression

Children with SEMH (Social, Emotional & Mental Health) needs and those attending EBD (Emotional & Behaviour Difficulty) schools often face challenges with confidence, emotional expression, resilience and self-belief.

Poetry can make a huge difference.

Through performance, rhythm, repetition and creative self-expression, poetry helps pupils:

💬 Find their voice
💛 Build confidence
🔥 Express emotions safely
👥 Work together as a team
🏆 Experience success quickly
🎭 Release energy through performance
🎵 Use rhythm & repetition to stay engaged

👉 In my work with SEMH and EBD schools, I see young people who might struggle in traditional literacy lessons suddenly light up when performing a poem. They move, speak, laugh, join in—and start to believe in themselves.

I visit schools across the UK (and online) using energetic performance poetry to support confidence, wellbeing and resilience.

📅 You can book me for:
✅ In-person poetry days in EBD & SEMH schools
✅ Online confidence-building poetry workshops

➡ Secure your date here: Poets in Schools – Ian Bland

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💡 Why Poetry Supports SEMH & EBD Pupils

Poetry isn’t just literacy—it’s emotional learning.

It helps pupils:

• Tell their story and explore identity

• Celebrate strengths

• Build self-worth and agency

• Regulate energy and emotion

• Develop empathy and perspective

• Experience success without fear of failure

• Practise speaking and performing in a safe way

And crucially:

✅ Poems can be short
✅ They can be physical
✅ They can be repeated
✅ They offer instant achievement

That’s powerful for young people who may feel school isn’t “for them”.

 

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🪪 Poem 1: Glad That I’m Me!

Glad That I’m Me!

If I was a flag
I’d be flapping and raising
If I was a star
Up high I’d be blazing!

If I was a saint
I’d be singing and praying
If I was some hips
You just know I’d be swaying!

If I was a bird
I’d be nesting and crowing
If I was a cup
I’d be just overflowing!

If I was a mouth
I’d be laughing and joking
If I was a fire
I’d be roaring and smoking!

If I was the sky
You just know I’d be lightning
If I was a ghost
I’d be spooky and frightening!

But just look at me now
As plain as can be
I’m glad that I’m normal
I’m glad that I’m me!

✨ Classroom Ideas: Identity & Self-Worth

1. Action-Emotion Matching
Pupils perform each line with actions: flapping, blazing, swaying, roaring.
Helps with self-expression, body confidence and engagement.

2. “If I Was…” Personal Version
Pupils complete the scaffold:

If I was a ___ I’d be ___ and ___
But I’m glad I’m me!

Encourage positive identity language.

3. “Super Strengths” First Verse
Children write 3 things they’re proud of and turn them into metaphors.
Provides an instant resilience boost.

4. Drama Option
Groups choose one verse each to perform with movement & sounds.

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💪 Poem 2: Never Going To Keep Me Down

Never Going To Keep Me Down

Don’t care if you call me names
Don’t bother that you spoil my games
I’m a firework exploding in the sky
I’m a warrior screaming a battle cry

Never going to keep me down
No, you’re never going to keep me down

Don’t care that you won’t let me past
Don’t bother about the race where I came last
I’m a treasure chest that’s stuffed with jewels
I’m a diamond sparkling in the sun

Never going to keep me down
No, you’re never going to keep me down

Say things about me that just aren’t true?
Think there’s nothing that I can do?
I’m a star with unlimited power
I’m a river that never stops flowing

Never going to keep me down
No, you’re never going to keep me down

Did you really think you could make me cry?
Did you really think I’d just walk on by?
I’m a bullet proof vest six inches thick
I’m a Teflon wall where lies won’t stick

Never going to keep me down
No, you’re never going to keep me down

🔥 Classroom Ideas: Resilience & Growth Mindset

1. Call-and-Response Performance
One group reads verses, whole class chants the refrain.
Builds unity, power and belonging.

2. “My Power Metaphor” Exercise
Pupils create their own metaphor:

I’m a ___ that ___

They can illustrate it too.

3. Emotion Scale Check-In
Before performance:
👍 “How confident do you feel?”
After performance:
🌟 “Did performing make you feel stronger?”

Supports emotional awareness and positive reinforcement.

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😀 Poem 3: I’m Happy That I’m Me!

I’m Happy That I’m Me!

I’m glad I’m me I’m glad I’m me
I love my friends and family
I love the way they make me smile
Oh won’t you come and see a while?

I’m glad I’m me I’m glad you’re you
Just look at all that we can do
We’ve got no worries, we’re all glad
No reason we should feel so sad,

I’m glad I’m me that I can run
That I can laugh and have some fun
That I can think and I am free
You bet your life I’m glad I’m me!

I’m glad I’m me that I’ve got friends
That pick me up when I am sad
I’m glad I’ve got some friends to share
I’m glad my friends are always there!

I’m glad I’m me that I can play
And kick a football every day
I’m glad that I can score a goal
To celebrate a forward roll!

😊 Classroom Ideas: Friendship & Joy

1. Gratitude Echo Performance
Teacher reads, class repeat.
Boosts positive mood and belonging.

2. Friendship Shout-Outs
Children write a positive line about a friend.
Encourages community & empathy.

3. “Glad I’m Me” Art Display
Pupils decorate a silhouette with words & drawings about themselves.
Creates empowering classroom displays.

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🌈 Final Thoughts

Poetry helps SEMH & EBD learners:

✔ Celebrate themselves
✔ Use movement to regulate emotions
✔ Build confidence and resilience
✔ Enjoy creativity & performance in a safe space
✔ Feel seen, valued and proud

Sometimes, one poem can change a child’s self-belief.

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🎤 Bring Poetry Alive in Your SEMH / EBD School

I deliver high-energy, confidence-boosting poetry days for SEMH and EBD schools.

👉 In-person workshops across the UK
👉 Online workshops available

Let’s help your pupils feel proud, powerful and heard.

📆 Book your SEMH/EBD poetry session here