SWELE Programme for improving mental wellbeing in children and adolescents with special educational needs: protocol of a quasi-experimental study

Background: Unstructured play has also been found effective on promoting positive emotions and emotional competence among early adolescents. Unstructured Outdoor Play coupled with Mindfulness-based Interventions via SWELE programme can foster the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents with SEN during COVID-19 pandemic. Currently there is a lack of the unstructured play-based programme in the special schools in Hong Kong. Thus, the aim of the SWELE Programme is to raise the public’s awareness how unstructured play with mindfulness interventions on ‘Supporting Wellness in E-Child Learning Environments’ (SWELE) programme combining unstructured outdoor play with mindfulness-based activities to promote mental health in SEN children and adolescents (students), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: /design: This 16-week programme focuses on Supporting Wellness in E-Child Learning Environments (SWELE) programme by combining unstructured outdoor play with mindfulness-based interventions to promote mental health in special education needs (SEN) students (ages 6-19), in the context of the post COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed method design with a quantitative measure using a pre- and post-tests quasi-experiment behavioural observational method without a control group to evaluate the effectiveness of a SWELE Programme on SEN students’ mental wellbeing; and with a qualitative design to conduct 6-8 focus group interviews (schoolteachers, parents, SEN students, school nurses) in six special groups (two groups from each special school) to explore the SEN students’ experiences in participating the SWELE programme. Discussion: With the outlined predefined analysis, we will assess the impact of a 16-week unstructured outdoor play programme on the emotional, anxiety, playful behaviour and mental health of children and adolescents with SEN in the special schools in Hong Kong. Trial Registration ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT06112483. Registered on 31 October 2023.