How to use this resource

Keeping Your Cool In School has been designed to be used as a whole class discussion stimulus and is ideally suited to use with a SMARTBoard/TV. The resource has 2 key elements - the online tool and accompanying teacher notes with printables.

Background information

The Keeping Your Cool in School programme was first established in 2007. It was designed to support children in developing and maintaining positive relationships; becoming more confident in tackling challenging situations and enabling them to have a better understanding of their responsibilities in school and beyond.

It provides them with the skills to manage emotions and raises awareness of wider issues affecting them and their peers. Each level of the programme explores a range of responses to different situations, focusing on aggressive, avoidant and assertive (cool) responses. The resource provides a range of age specific resources through primary school by encouraging and developing the attitudes and life-skills for children to grow as individuals and to thrive within the school community and beyond.

The overall aims of the programme are to:

• help children recognise and discuss their feelings about themselves and others
• equip children with the attitudes and skills they need to thrive in a changing society
• encourage parents and staff to work together to teach children respect for themselves and one another, in order that they cope well with the challenges of school.

The programme has been updated for 2024 to reflect:

• Changes in society – including our attitudes, values and beliefs
• Our developing knowledge of how children and young people are impacted by conflict and disputes within relationships
• The ways we use technology as a learning tool within our school
• A streamlined approach to planning for the delivery of ‘Keeping Your Cool In School’ – allowing for teacher judgement with regards to how to frame questions.