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The HushAway® Sleep Guide for Schools

Every classroom has tired pupils in it. You see it in the yawns after lunch, the short fuses, the child who can’t settle and the one who doesn’t make it in at all. Sleep happens at home, but the school day has more influence over it than most of us realise. This free 20-page guide explains why sleep sits underneath so much of what you see in class, why it can be harder for neurodivergent and anxious pupils, and the small, realistic things schools can do across the day to help.

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The HushAway Sleep Guide for Schools cover

What’s inside the guide

What pupils tell youHQ about their sleep, and what it means for mood and learning
Inside a tired brain, and why a tired pupil can look like a badly behaved one
Why sleep can be harder for autistic, ADHD and anxious pupils, and how it links to attendance
How the school day shapes the night, with an example calm school day from arrival to home time
Looking after the adults, with teacher Natasha Brand
Ten gentle steps for the classroom, ideas for working with families, and a staffroom checklist to print and pin up

Written with people who know schools and sleep

With insight from Jez Belas and Dr Alistair Bailie of youHQ, Helen Rutherford of The Sleep Charity, teacher Natasha Brand, and our research consultant Dr Giulia Poerio, University of Sussex.

“Sleep has consistently come up as the major attribute for low and high mood.”

Jez Belas, Co-founder and Engagement Director, youHQ

About HushAway®

HushAway® is a UK-based audio library of stories, affirmations and soundscapes for children aged 4 to 10 years. It was built from the ground up for neurodivergent children, not neurotypical content relabelled. It is low-demand and instruction-free, designed to become a gentle, familiar part of a child’s everyday routine, not a sticking plaster for moments of crisis. There are no “calm down” steps to follow. Our stories and sounds are frequency-based, using Solfeggio frequencies, binaural beats and ASMR-informed soundscapes, and we are research-informed and backed by the Circle of Experts and SoundSonic® Ambassadors.

HushAway® is a sound-therapy-informed regulation tool. It is not a medical or clinical treatment.

Questions schools ask

Is the guide really free?

Yes. Fill in the form and the guide is yours to download, share with colleagues and print.

Who is the guide for?

Anyone working with children aged 4 to 10 years in a primary school or nursery: class teachers, teaching assistants, SENCos, pastoral and attendance leads, early years practitioners and senior leaders.

Is it only for neurodivergent pupils?

No. It was written with neurodivergent and anxious pupils in mind, because sleep is often harder for them, but the ideas are designed for the whole class.

Do we need special equipment or a subscription to use the ideas?

No. Most of the ideas cost nothing. Where sound is suggested, a classroom speaker at a low volume is all you need.

How is HushAway® different from apps like Calm or Headspace?

Many calming apps are built around guided meditations that ask a child to follow steps, breathe in a certain way or picture a scene. For a tired or overwhelmed child that can feel like one more instruction. HushAway® is instruction-free. The stories and soundscapes simply play in the background, and it was built from the ground up for neurodivergent children aged 4 to 10 years.

Is HushAway® a therapy?

No. HushAway® is a sound-therapy-informed regulation tool. It is not a medical or therapeutic treatment and doesn’t replace your school’s SEND, pastoral or safeguarding support.

Can we use HushAway® in our school?

Yes. Sanctuary in Schools is HushAway® for primary schools and nurseries. You can register your school’s interest at education.hushaway.com.

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