Promoting resilience

Encourage the development of a positive attitude, self-belief and communication:

• positive feedback, encouragement and reassurance
• help pupils learn to understand and express their feelings
• communicate openly with all pupils.

Foster a positive and inclusive ethos:

• build a sense of belonging in school and class
• involve pupils in decision making
• celebrate diversity within the school community.

Increase support networks for pupils:

• someone to talk to
• one-to-one support
• peer support/buddying/befriending
• foster a culture of listening.

Activities outwith the classroom:

• lunchtime/after-school clubs
• development of safe social areas in school grounds
• participation in eco schools/health promoting schools groups.

Encourage the building of trusting and co-operative relationships between pupils and adults:

• foster mutual respect between everyone in the school
• recognise outside pressures/influences on pupils
• activity days/residential trips.

Encourage a sense of fun:

• make time to have fun in class
• opportunities for games, laughter, jokes and relaxation
• school dance/pantomime/carnival/fundraising.

Increase pupils’ engagement with learning:

• flexible use of teaching methods and styles
• opportunities for performance
• provide additional support for learning
• formative assessment to plan learning experiences.

Develop life skills:

• practical/project work
• pupil involvement/responsibility for running tuck shop, looking after visitors, etc
• work experience/voluntary work
• opportunities to think and act in enterprising ways
• build literacy and numeracy skills.