Pupil wellbeing: Is your school a safe place?

For some young people, school represents the one constant in their life; it can be a safe haven for our most vulnerable young people. As they walk through the school gates, they can shrug off adult worries and responsibilities and become a child for a few hours enabling them the opportunity to thrive and flourish alongside their peers.

In this short article, I have explored the good practice I have observed around the country that makes schools feel like a safe space for those who need it most – some of these ideas and strategies might work in your school too.

Rules and consistency are the bedrock in helping to make life feel safe and predictable for children. We can feel that we are being kind and supportive when we flex and bend these rules for vulnerable youngsters, but in doing this we unwittingly make school feel unpredictable.