PRESS RELEASE
September 2026
More pupils are learning how the brain works, how to regulate their emotions and how to connect with the natural world and each other through a pilot project that has been rolled out to dozens of Wiltshire schools.
Teachers have praised the new Emotional Me programme, developed by relationship science specialists KCA, for helping children to be more aware of their own feelings and the causes of them. Emotional Me builds on KCA’s successful Five to Thrive programme, which sets out the building blocks for a healthy brain and is already used by local authorities, heath trusts, schools and early years settings.
The pilot was commissioned by Wiltshire Council’s Public Health and Education department amid concern in schools that increasing numbers of pupils are finding it difficult to regulate their emotions. The Council also commissioned the Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University, to independently evaluate the implementation of the pilot.
Teachers from 18 primary and secondary schools were initially trained to deliver lessons on emotional understanding, wellbeing, resilience and vulnerability. Two thirds of the schools went on to use the training in classrooms.
The independent evaluation found that more than three quarters of children who took part – 76 per cent in primary school and 81 per cent in secondary school – said they enjoyed the lessons, which as well as teaching children about their emotions also highlighted the psychological benefits of spending time in nature and connecting with others.
IPC’s evaluation also found that Emotional Me “fits well into the school environment” and could be rolled out more widely.
The report said: “Emotional Me appears well-aligned with schools’ and stakeholders’ existing priorities and ambitions for fostering children’s emotional health and wellbeing.”
It added: “All teachers were very positive about the quality of the training they received … The teaching and learning resources were particularly valued for their quality and ease of use, significantly reducing preparation time for teachers.”
One teacher who was interviewed for the evaluation said: “For lots of our children, they feel like ‘I’m the only one with anxiety. I’m the only person feeling like this. Why am I feeling like this?’ And giving them the answers to those questions is always something that is good to do, so that was why I thought it was a good project.”
Another teacher said: “I definitely thought it helped the children to be more aware of their feelings and being a bit more able to talk about what a problem was or maybe where it had come from.”
Teachers from 31 schools – 25 primary and six secondary schools across Wiltshire – are now taking part in a second phase of the pilot. IPC will continue the independent evaluation.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Learning how to understand and regulate emotions is a vital life skill that can have a positive impact on children’s wellbeing, relationships and readiness to learn. The results from this pilot have been encouraging, showing how the right support can help young people build resilience and develop a better understanding of themselves and others. We’re proud to be working with schools and partners to explore innovative approaches like Emotional Me that support children to thrive both in the classroom and beyond.”
Professor Katy Burch, Assistant Director of IPC, Oxford Brookes University, said: “Wiltshire Council and IPC has had a longstanding academic partnership. It is great to see Wiltshire Public Health and KCA’s commitment to independent evaluation right from the beginning of Emotional Me. We are looking forward to gathering evidence in more schools and year groups about Emotional Me.”
Gloucestershire-based KCA is encouraging other local authorities and schools to adopt the Emotional Me programme, to promote healthy development and wellbeing in children and young people.
Alex Elander-Phoenix, KCA’s Director of Learning and Development, said: “Emotional Me gives both teachers and their pupils the tools to understand and regulate their emotions, building on developments in neuroscience that have transformed how we think about wellbeing and resilience. It offers an opportunity to help more of our children and young people better navigate the challenges of today’s world.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Media enquiries: Please contact Dan Hodges on 07941 712206 or danhodges020@gmail.com
About KCA: Knowledge Change Action (KCA) is a nationally recognised organisation specialising in trauma-informed, attachment-aware and relational practice.
Since 2011, KCA has partnered with local authorities, schools and children’s services across the UK to help professionals translate neuroscience and relational research into everyday practice.
Through evidence-informed training, consultancy and implementation support, KCA helps organisations make the science of healthy development meaningful in everyday practice, creating cultures where children and young people can thrive.
About Emotional Me: Emotional Me enables teachers to help children identify different emotions and describe how they arise in the brain and body.
Teachers learn how to explain the value of wellbeing and resilience, share strategies for emotional regulation, and develop activities and opportunities for reflection in classrooms that can strengthen pupils’ self-awareness and self-management.
The course also helps teachers understand the neuroscience behind digital harm, its relationship to trauma and resilience, and how digital technology can both undermine and support children’s emotional wellbeing.
The Wiltshire pilot initially ran between February and July 2025. Teachers from 15 primary and three secondary schools received two days of in-person training and a 90-minute reflective practice session. Resources for parents were also provided.
The second phase of the pilot started in June 2026 and will run to the end of December 2026, with training delivered to 51 teachers from across years 5, 6, 7 and 8, from 26 primary schools and five secondary schools. For more details visit kca.training/programmes/emotional-me. For Press Release visit: https://www.kca.training/news/pioneering-schools-programme-could-help-more-children-understand-their-emotions/
The implementation of the pilot is evaluated by the Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University. The evaluation was commissioned by Wiltshire Council.
The evaluation report from the first phase is available to download from IPC’s website: ipc.brookes.ac.uk/publications/evaluation-of-emotional-me-pilot-wiltshire-county-council
