At Park Road, we believe that children learn best when they feel safe, valued and understood. Supporting our pupils’ emotional wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

We understand that behaviour is a form of communication. When children feel overwhelmed, anxious or unsure, this can sometimes show in their behaviour. Rather than simply reacting to behaviour, we focus on understanding what a child might be feeling and helping them to regulate, reflect and repair.

We follow a relational behaviour policy, which means:

• We prioritise positive relationships between adults and children.

• We take time to listen and understand before responding.

• We support children to repair and restore relationships when things go wrong.

• We focus on teaching children the skills they need to manage emotions and behaviour.

Our aim is not simply to manage behaviour, but to help children develop lifelong emotional skills.

Emotional Coaching

All staff have received training in emotional coaching. This approach helps adults to:

• Recognise and validate children’s feelings

• Help children name and understand their emotions

• Teach strategies for calming and problem-solving

• Guide children towards appropriate choices

By acknowledging feelings first, children feel heard and supported, making them more ready to learn and engage positively.

Across school, children learn about their feelings through the Zones of Regulation framework. This helps pupils to:

• Recognise different emotional states

• Understand that all feelings are valid

• Develop strategies to regulate their emotions

• Build independence in managing their behaviour

Children are supported to identify which “zone” they are in and use agreed strategies to help themselves return to a calm, ready-to-learn state.

ZONE Idioms

Wellbeing at Park Road is not an add-on — it is embedded throughout school life. We support children’s emotional development through:

• Positive classroom relationships

• Celebration of achievements (academic and personal)

• Opportunities for reflection and discussion

• PSHE lessons

• Nurturing adult support

• Close partnership with families

When children need additional support, we work closely with parents and, where appropriate, external professionals to ensure every child receives the care they need.

Our Commitment

At Park Road, we are committed to developing confident, resilient and emotionally aware learners who are ready to succeed both in school and beyond.

If you would like to know more about how we support wellbeing, please speak to a member of our Senior Leadership Team.