Emotional Difficulties
Low Self-Esteem
Build confidence through achievable success, genuine specific praise, and a classroom where mistakes are safe and valued.
Whole-class strategies
- Create a 'mistakes are how we learn' culture and model your own mistakes.
- Use specific, genuine praise that names the effort or strategy, not just 'well done'.
- Give every pupil regular chances to succeed and contribute.
- Celebrate a range of strengths, not only academic achievement.
Small-group and individual support
- Set achievable, incremental goals so pupils regularly experience success.
- Give responsibilities or classroom jobs that build a sense of value.
- Notice strengths and reflect them back to the pupil explicitly.
- Use encouraging self-talk phrases and practise them together.
Building resilience
- Encourage a growth mindset by praising progress over time.
- Help pupils keep a record of things they have achieved or improved.
- Frame setbacks as temporary and specific, not as personal failings.
- Pair pupils with supportive peers for collaborative tasks.
Do
- Give specific, honest praise.
- Create frequent, genuine opportunities to succeed.
- Focus feedback on effort and improvement.
Avoid
- Don't compare pupils publicly with one another.
- Don't use empty or exaggerated praise.
- Don't only recognise the highest achievers.