Bridge Road, West Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2NU
01438 216565
Unconditional Positive Regard & Behaviour
At the Woolenwick Schools, we follow and adhere to the Unconditional Positive Regard approach. This research based approach has been developed by psychologist Carl Rogers and is rooted in about accepting and valuing every individual without judgement or conditions. We strive to create an environment where children feel respected, understood and safe to express themselves regardless of their behaviour, achievements or individual factors.
This underpins the way we support children and our approach to behaviour.
All of our staff have received bespoke training where they demonstrate and our taught the importance of positive regard through daily interactions, careful word choices and carefully used body language. We all work together to build a positive and trusting relational approach where every childfeels safe, secure and wanted. We use praise and positive reinforcements to showcase children's efforts and achievements which brings positively towards them including their self-esteem, confidence and sense of belonging.
We create a safe atmosphere where their shame or judgement is removed providing children with a space to feel. Empathy underpins hugely on how we approach behaviour. We want children's emotions to feel validated and how we see the feeling not the behaviour.
Unconditional positive regard is therefore an important part of our behaviour policy. We recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and that children will sometimes make mistakes or find it difficult to manage their emotions. Following an incident, our focus is not on making children feel that they are 'in trouble', but on helping them understand what happened, reflect on their choices, repair relationships where necessary and make positive changes moving forward. Consequences still form part of our approach to behavouir which is part of the learning and reflection time based on the behaviours witnessed.
Training CPD
Session 1 Relationships and Culture at the Woolenwick Schools
