Welcome to the SEAL community!
Social and emotional learning helps children and young people to:
‘… learn how to communicate their feelings, set themselves goals and work towards them, interact successfully with others, resolve conflicts peaceably, control their anger and negotiate their way through the many complex relationships in their lives today and tomorrow’.
This kind of learning underpins positive behaviour and attitudes to learning, personal development and mental health and wellbeing. It is at the heart of PSHE, relationships and health education.
Research shows it also helps raise attainment. Social and emotional learning is attracting increasing attention in schools. On this website you will find age-related teaching resources and whole school frameworks to support your work.
Many of them come from the national ‘Social and emotional Learning’ (SEAL) initiative. By registering with us (which is free, quick and easy), you can immediately find and download all of the national SEAL curriculum materials and teacher guidance. There’s a progression in learning objectives that can be used in any school, and training materials if you want to introduce or refresh a whole-school SEAL approach. Click on National Resources then click the Getting Started with SEAL tab.
If you would like regularly updated teaching resources, you can also join our SEAL Community. Set up and supported by leading experts in the field, the SEAL Community is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to promote and develop SEAL through sharing news, practice, resources and expertise. Joining costs £30 for individuals, £75 for schools/settings and £100 for local authorities or other multi-school organisations. Click here to join
News update
The primary collection features 40 books for 3-11-year olds; the secondary collection has 25 books for 12-16-year olds.
Have a look at the latest in our series of films designed to
The DfE in England published the updated Behaviour in Schools guidance
Sharing practice
At Sebright Primary in Hackney, November is ‘kindness month’.
Beckley Ashley Irving, SENCO at Tetney Primary School, describes how her school promotes wellbeing.
At Brookvale Primary School, all children, staff and parents focused for two weeks on acts of kindness and helped each other fill their kindness bu
Resource roundup
If you’re planning any workshops/discussions with families about social and emotional learning there are some nice ideas (used selectively) in this CASEL Guide.
Looking for an inspirational short film for an assembly or lesson? Have a look at the new Character Counts resources. There’s a lesson library you can explore by SEL area (self-awareness, self-regulation etc) or by six character strengths/values, or search for specific topics such as kindness, empathy, perseverance, resilience or teamwork.
Check out the Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum, which includes interactive presentations, videos and new visuals. It is the next evolution of the original best-selling book by Leah Kuypers, and offers a comprehensive approach to help learners ages four upward to understand and manage their emotions effectively.
The National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education has launched new, free-to-download ‘Connect’ lesson pack —helping pupils aged 9-12 develop online independence and safer connections. In each lesson, pupils are introduced to a new character through engaging situational films.
Practical tools
Combine primary maths work on graphing and coordinates with social and emotional learning using RULER’s mood
If your school isn’t ready for a full, taught social and emotional curriculum then try this approach from Nicole Green ...
Why not try out a teacher self-assessment , to help teachers evaluate how well they are doing in incorporating social and emotional learning into t
We loved this picture to use as an emotional check-in; children choose which frog best represents how they are feeling.
We came across this in – of all places – a street in San Francisco while on a twice-COVID-postponed big holiday.
New research
The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (NSCDC) in the US have summarised research on the resilience factors that
Top resource
We really like this programme to teach young people aged 8 – 16 years to manage their own anxiety and worry. It helps them develop techniques to use on their own when they begin to feel worried; these are printed onto a fan to keep in their pocket or bag.
Find at: http://www.gettingthelowdown.com/ Cost: £100
Getting the Lowdown’ is a teaching resource designed to equip teachers and facilitators with the tools they need to effectively educate and engage young people around issues of emotional well-being.
Helping Children with Feelings – nine guidebooks and nine accompanying stories (or buy each separately) By: Margot Sunderland and Nicky Armstrong Find at: http://www.speechmark.net Code: 0025449 Cost: £284.00 for all 18 books (from £19.99 for individual books)
We all want children to enjoy playtimes, benefiting from the physical and mental exercise and social interaction that effectively-run outdoor spaces allow. This book has been written to help you or your children teach exciting games that will encourage children's social and emotional development.