Wellbeing Blog

Term 2 Week 4 2025

Supporting Calm Classrooms: How We Help Students Stay “Ready to Learn”

At our College, we understand that learning doesn’t happen easily when students are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. That’s why a big part of our approach is focused on de-escalation – helping students (and staff!) recognise rising stress levels and gently guiding them back to a calmer, more focused state.

As defined by the Berry Street Education Model, “De-escalation is about recognising stress levels in yourself and your students, then using techniques to bring the class into an optimal state to facilitate learning” (BSEM, 2021, p.7).

In simple terms, de-escalation means using strategies to reduce the stress response and help students feel safe, calm, and ready to learn again.

What Does De-escalation Look Like in Practice?

We use a 3-step process to support students when they are feeling dysregulated or overwhelmed:

  1. Proactively Create a Calm and Predictable Environment
    Students thrive when they know what to expect. Our classrooms are structured with consistent routines and calm transitions, which help reduce anxiety and increase students’ sense of safety.

  2. Monitor and Recognise Early Signs of Stress
    Our staff are trained to identify early signs that a student may be becoming stressed or unsettled. Recognising this early allows us to act before stress escalates into bigger behavioural challenges.

  3. Use Strategies to Return to an Optimal Learning State
    Once we notice signs of stress, we use personalised tools and calming strategies to support students back into a “just right” state – one where they can engage, participate and learn effectively.

What Does De-escalation Look Like in Practice?

To help students become more aware of their own emotional responses, we use something called a Ready to Learn Plan. These plans help students:

  • Understand what situations may cause them to feel stressed or upset

  • Recognise early warning signs in themselves

  • Choose strategies that help them calm down and feel in control again

Each student’s plan is individual, empowering them with skills for self-regulation and emotional awareness. You’ll find these Ready to Learn Plans in your child’s College Diary – and we encourage you to take a look, discuss them with your child, and even consider how similar strategies might be used at home.

Alexandra Carcione