At West Denton Primary School, we recognise that social and emotional skills are essential life skills that help children navigate challenges, build positive relationships and thrive both in school and in life. These skills support pupils in managing difficult situations, working well with others and developing the confidence and resilience they need to succeed. They also have a positive impact on academic achievement, motivation and overall wellbeing, and play an important role in helping to prevent mental health difficulties from developing.

We believe that our school has a vital role in building the strong emotional foundations that children need in order to flourish and maintain positive mental health.

What are social and emotional skills?

At West Denton Primary School, we understand social and emotional skills as the abilities that help children to:

• Identify and manage feelings and behaviour, and know when to ask for help

• Build and maintain healthy relationships

• Develop self-control and make thoughtful choices

• Resolve conflict positively

• Develop self-awareness and understanding of others

• Cope with challenges and bounce back after setbacks

• Make safe and informed decisions

• Build resilience, self-esteem and confidence

• Recognise the importance of mental health and wellbeing

• Grow into well-rounded, responsible young people

These skills are taught through our PSHE and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum and reinforced across all areas of school life.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

At West Denton Primary School, we recognise that everyone has mental health, and that it affects how we think, feel and behave. Mental health is part of our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing and can change over time depending on different life experiences and circumstances. Just as we care for our physical health, it is equally important to look after our mental health.

A child’s wellbeing influences how they cope with stress, build relationships, make decisions and engage with the world around them. When children experience positive wellbeing, they are better able to:

• Learn and explore

• Recognise and manage emotions

• Develop positive relationships

• Cope with change and uncertainty

• Grow in confidence and thrive in different situations

Developing strong coping strategies supports children to build resilience, self-esteem and confidence. This helps them manage their emotions, stay calm and engage positively with their learning, which in turn supports academic progress.

We recognise that every child is unique, and a range of factors can influence their mental health over time. Children respond differently to challenges, and it is important that they are supported in a way that meets their individual needs.

Supporting Mental Health in School

Schools play a key role in promoting and supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. As children spend a significant amount of their time in school, staff are well placed to notice when a child may be struggling and to provide timely support or referrals where needed.

We are committed to helping children develop strong social and emotional skills that equip them with the tools they need to understand and manage their thoughts, feelings, behaviour, goals and relationships. This is delivered through our PSHE and RSE curriculum and is reinforced throughout daily routines, interactions and experiences.

We believe that wellbeing should not be taught in isolation, but consistently embedded across the curriculum and the everyday life of our pupils at West Denton Primary School.

Zones of Regulation

At West Denton Primary School, our aim is to help children develop a strong understanding of their emotions and to further build their self-regulation skills. Self-regulation is a key life skill that supports children both in school and in later life, helping them manage their feelings, behaviour and focus in a range of situations.

Through planned activities, teaching and discussion, children learn to recognise how they are feeling and identify which “Zone” they may be in. They are taught practical strategies to help them move between Zones when needed, or to remain in a calm, focused and positive state that supports learning.

Children develop important skills such as using emotional vocabulary, recognising facial expressions, understanding how their behaviour may be viewed by others and recognising what may trigger different emotional responses. They also learn calming, alerting and problem-solving strategies to support them in managing their emotions effectively.

We use the Zones of Regulation framework to support this learning. This helps children understand that feelings and behaviours can be grouped into four Zones:

Blue Zone (Slow)

When children may feel tired, unwell, sad or bored and their energy is low.

Green Zone (Go)

When children are calm, focused and ready to learn. This is the optimal zone for learning.

Yellow Zone (Caution)

When energy levels are higher and children may feel excited, worried, frustrated, overwhelmed or restless.

Red Zone (Stop)

When emotions are very intense and children may feel out of control, such as anger, panic or extreme excitement.

We teach children that all Zones are normal and expected at different times, and that none of them are “bad” or “naughty”. We promote a positive and supportive approach to behaviour and emotional regulation, helping children understand and manage their feelings in a constructive way.

As children progress, they learn to recognise their own Zones, understand which responses may be most helpful in different situations and build a toolkit of strategies to support their self-regulation and emotional wellbeing.

We will continue to share further information with families as this work develops across school, ensuring a consistent approach to supporting children.