Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)? 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process that fosters the development of children and young people's social and emotional skills. SEL covers a range of skills designed to help children and young people manage their emotions, learn emotional problem-solving, encourage prosocial behaviour, and improve overall wellbeing and resilience. It also helps with interpersonal skills like working in teams and resolving conflicts. 

TES provides some further information on SEL. 

What are the principles? 

The Education Endowment Fund (EEF) highlights five key areas of SEL, these are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships skills and decision making.  

SEL interventions can be implemented at various levels - whole-school / setting level, classroom level, or individual level. They can be part of universal programmes that take place in the classroom with the whole class, or more specialised programmes targeted at children or young people with particular social or emotional needs. 

Why is SEL important? 

Recent Norfolk INDES data shows that 22.6% of the INDES submissions present an SEMH need.  

Evidence from the EEF suggests that effective SEL can lead to learning gains of 4 months over the course of a year. Alongside academic outcomes, SEL interventions have an identifiable and valuable impact on attitudes to learning and social relationships.  

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) offers numerous benefits for children and young people. Here are some key benefits: 

1. Improved Engagement with Learning: SEL can enhance academic achievement. Children and young people with better social-emotional skills are more likely to have good relationships with their peers and teachers, which in turn can make them more engaged in learning. 
2. Enhanced Wellbeing: SEL can help manage stress, control impulses, and persevere through challenges, which can lead to improved mental health. 
3. Better Interpersonal Skills: SEL teaches empathy, kindness and respect and equips children and young people with emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills to help them navigate challenges and build positive relationships. 
4. Increased Self-Awareness and Self-Management: SEL helps children and young people understand their own emotions, personal goals, and values. This includes accurately assessing their strengths and limitations, having positive mindsets, and possessing a well-grounded sense of self-efficacy and optimism. 
5. Development of Social Awareness: SEL develops the ability to understand, empathise, and feel compassion for those with different backgrounds or cultures. It also involves understanding social norms for behaviour and recognising family, school, and community resources and supports. 
6. Enhancement of Relationship Skills: SEL helps children and young people to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships, and to act in accordance with social norms. 

These benefits not only help children and young people during their school years but also equip them with skills that are beneficial throughout their lives. 

What does the law say? 

All schools are under a statutory duty to promote the welfare of their children and young people, which includes preventing impairment of children's health or development and taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes. Full details are set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance.  

What support is available? 

National 

Education Endowment Fund: EEF provides a comprehensive guide on SEL, highlighting its importance and effectiveness.  

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): CASEL is a non-profit organization that focuses on advancing social and emotional learning (SEL). They promote evidence based SEL in schools and settings and provide SEL resources such as online courses and workshops. 

PSHE Association: The PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) Association provides support for teaching SEL. They make recommendations on how to plan, implement, and teach an SEL programme and reinforce learnt skills through a whole school or setting ethos. They provide guidance, lesson plans, and offer resources, training, and guidance to support teachers in addressing mental health and emotional wellbeing safely, sensitively, and confidently.  

Mentally Healthy Schools Website: This website brings together quality-assured mental health resources, information, and advice for schools and settings.  

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: NICE provides guidelines on ways to support social, emotional, and mental wellbeing in children and young people in primary or secondary education. They emphasise the importance of involving families in the decision-making process and promoting a range of targeted support, including peer-to-peer support. 

Norfolk  

Our local offer draws upon what is available nationally, helping you contextualise approaches, and provides targeted support to meet the needs of your school community. Find out more in our graduated offer webpage.

 We have also developed an SEMH training module which will be available soon. 

Key contacts

If you require any support, please call 0333 313 7165 to get in touch with one of our advisers. This phone line is open on weekdays, from 9am to 5pm. You can also email inclusionandsend@norfolk.gov.uk if you are unable to call.

If your query relates to training, please email sendandinclusiontraining@norfolk.gov.uk