As the summer holidays begin to draw to a close, thoughts naturally start turning towards the new school year. For some children and young people, September brings excitement: a new classroom, seeing friends again, new teachers and a fresh start. For others, it can bring something very different. Worry. Uncertainty. Sleepless nights. Stomach aches. Big emotions. Avoidance. The transition back to school can be particularly challenging for children and young people with SEND, S

Emotional regulation isn't developed through one-off lessons or worksheets alone. It grows through consistent relationships, predictable routines and everyday opportunities to practise recognising and managing emotions. Here are five simple ways to support emotional regulation throughout the school day. 1. Start the Day with an Emotional Check-In A quick emotional check-in helps children and young people recognise how they are feeling before the day begins. This doesn't need

When we think about a child feeling unsafe, we often imagine obvious fear or distress. In reality, children communicate emotional safety in many different ways, and those signs are frequently misunderstood as "challenging behaviour", "attention seeking" or "poor choices". Understanding these signals allows adults to respond with curiosity, compassion and effective support. 1. They refuse to enter the classroom School refusal isn't always about not wanting to learn. Sometimes,

When a child is overwhelmed by big emotions, one of the first things adults often say is: "Take some deep breaths." "Calm down." "Think before you act." While these strategies can sometimes be helpful, they rely on something that many children are still developing... Self-awareness. Because before a child can regulate their emotions, they first need to recognise what they are feeling. Emotional regulation begins with understanding. Children aren't born knowing how to identify

When a child repeatedly struggles with a behaviour, it's easy to focus on stopping the behaviour itself. However, lasting change rarely happens through consequences alone. Children first need to understand what is expected, why it matters and what they can do instead. This is where social stories can make a real difference. What is a social story? A social story is a short, structured story that helps a child understand a specific situation, behaviour or expectation in a calm

Every behaviour tells a story. When a child shouts, refuses to work, walks away, becomes withdrawn or lashes out, it can be easy to focus on what we see. However, behaviour is often the outward expression of an unmet need, an overwhelming emotion or a skill that has not yet developed. Looking beyond the behaviour allows adults to respond with curiosity rather than frustration. This doesn't mean removing boundaries or expectations—it means understanding why a behaviour is happ

Every child wants to feel safe, understood and valued. When children experience strong relationships with the adults around them, they are better able to learn, regulate their emotions and build positive relationships with others. Yet for many children, especially those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, this doesn't always come easily. At Connection First Resources, we believe that behaviour is communication. Behind every challenging behaviour is a child