Managing your Wellbeing as Support Staff

Working with a child who dysregulates often keeps your body on high alert. Each outburst floods you with stress, and without time to recover it builds until you're reacting rather than thinking.

You'll learn to catch that moment. A slow breath before you speak gets your thinking brain back, so you can help the child calm down. Small habits stop the stress stacking up: a mindful minute at the photocopier, writing incidents up quickly and factually, a proper debrief after a hard day, and three good things noticed before you go home.

The approach comes from a former headteacher who went on to support children with social, emotional and mental health needs. Be curious, not furious. Working out with the child what their behaviour is telling you can mean fewer incidents for both of you. And if it's still too much, you'll know how to ask for things to change.