The guide helps teachers pay structural attention to students' socio-emotional development and well-being. It answers questions such as:

  • In what other ways can you promote your students' well-being?
  • How do you create a pleasant atmosphere in the classroom?
  • What do you do when you are not feeling well yourself and you and your colleagues are not on the same page? What helps you as a teacher in that situation?
  • How do you ensure that you can easily integrate this into your existing lessons, so that it does not feel like ‘something extra’?

Benefits

According to the authors, preventive investment in socio-emotional development (SEO) offers many benefits. For example, research shows that when schools adopt an effective, comprehensive approach focused on psychological well-being, this leads to improved academic performance, increased social and emotional skills, and a decrease in problem behavior and symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, attention to teachers' own well-being also has positive effects. Teachers who feel well perform better, experience less stress, and are better able to teach and guide students effectively.

Findings

The authors' research, including interviews and co-creation sessions, produced four important findings:

  • Attention to SEO and well-being is not about responding to incidents, but about preventively building a positive environment.
  • Strengthening students' SEO and well-being cannot be captured in a single method or intervention, or in a single moment of the day.
  • Skills cannot be learned from paper, and without space, time and calm for the teacher, there is little chance that practical tools will really help.
  • Attention to SEO and well-being is not solely a matter between the individual student and teacher.

Circles of influence

All the insights ultimately lead to six ‘circles of influence on social-emotional development and well-being’:

1. Teacher well-being: make sure that you, as a teacher, feel well and know what role you play with regard to your students' SEO and well-being. This will enable you to increase your positive influence.

2. SEO and well-being of the individual student: recognize strengths and opportunities in the social-emotional development of every student.

3. Group dynamics in the classroom: create a classroom that provides a promising and safe environment for every child.

4. Professional learning environment (team): work with the team on a preventive, proactive and learning-oriented attitude. Continue to generate attention for the topic, keep consulting with one another, and create a safe atmosphere within the team where there is room to be open with each other.

5. Positive pedagogical school climate: ensure that attention to SEO and well-being is reflected throughout the school, supported by all colleagues and students.

6. Environmental context: neighborhood characteristics, social factors, home situation, support structures outside the school, such as youth work.

The first five circles are elaborated in the guide through a Key Message, Supporting Evidence, Inspiring examples from practice and Practical tools.

Download the guide ‘Preventive work on social-emotional development and well-being’ here.