ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the core social and emotional capabilities of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. It reviews the evidence showing that these capabilities can be developed purposefully through school-based SEL programmes, and that such programmes not only impact on behaviour, but also on learning. The chapter suggests that social and emotional capabilities play an important role in the disadvantage gap – particularly those relating to self-regulation, goal-setting, persistence and resisting peer pressure. Strategies are described and case studies presented which illustrate systematic approaches to developing these capabilities, providing explicit teaching within a supportive whole-school context.
