Apple’s Friends is a social emotional learning programme for 7 – 9 year olds which meets all elements of the Mental Wellbeing requirements of the statutory guidance for Relationships and Health Education for primary schools.

Apple’s Friends has been evaluated and found to improve children’s coping skills, social skills, emotional literacy, improve the class climate and reduce bullying. Read about the evidence behind Apple’s Friends and the impact the programme has had on children and teachers.

Apple’s Friends is based around a series of stories and the programme has 24 sessions of 45 minutes. Children develop their own positive strategies to deal with problems through engaging activities: listening to stories, discussion, games, role-play and drawing. The Additional Activities Booklet can be used as a follow-on programme to run Apple’s Friends for a second year or to reinforce and consolidate the learning of the programme. There are also Home Activities to reinforce learning at home with parents and carers.

The six modules cover:

  • Feelings
  • Communication
  • Friendship
  • Conflict
  • Change and Loss
  • Moving forward

The programme reinforces skills learnt in Zippy’s Friends for 5-7 year olds but children do not need to have taken part in Zippy’s Friends to complete Apple’s Friends; it is an independent programme.

Apple’s Friends has been revised and updated for 2022 based on teacher feedback to include new activities enabling schools to run the programme over two years. There are also updated story illustrations created by illustrator Lisa Williams to give the programme a fresh, new modern look.

Staff who would like to deliver the Apple’s Friends programme need to complete an online training session and purchase a subscription to the Apple’s Friends resources on the Skills for Life online teaching platform.


Last modified: Tuesday, 22 August 2023, 2:29 PM