Emotional Difficulties
Anxiety
Create a predictable, safe classroom, teach calming strategies, and reduce the pressures that trigger worry so pupils can engage.
Whole-class strategies
- Keep routines predictable and give advance warning of any changes.
- Display the day's schedule and refer to it so pupils know what to expect.
- Teach and practise simple calming techniques (slow breathing, grounding) with the whole class.
- Use calm, low-key responses and a quiet signal rather than public correction.
Small-group and individual support
- Agree a discreet signal or card the pupil can use to ask for a break.
- Provide a calm corner or safe space the pupil can go to when overwhelmed.
- Check in privately at the start of the day to gauge how the pupil is feeling.
- Break big tasks into small steps to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.
Reducing triggers
- Avoid putting anxious pupils on the spot; let them volunteer or pre-warn them.
- Give thinking time and allow answers to be shared in writing or with a partner first.
- Prepare pupils in advance for new activities, visitors or transitions.
- Reduce time pressure and reassure pupils that mistakes are part of learning.
Do
- Validate feelings calmly ('I can see this feels hard').
- Offer choices to give a sense of control.
- Notice and gently praise brave, small steps.
Avoid
- Don't force participation or put pupils on the spot.
- Don't dismiss worries as silly or tell pupils to 'just relax'.
- Don't draw public attention to a pupil's anxiety.