SEL Essentials

Essentials of Quality Social Emotional Learning Practice.

What is socio-emotional skills development all about and how does it relate to the work that you do with young people? 

SEL Essentials is all about: 

  • Building a foundational understanding of SEL skills and how skill building in the social, emotional, and cognitive competences occurs in the many different places that learning happens; 

  • Identifying how an SEL focus both grows from and adds value to the work that you are already doing to a) improve quality of your provision and b) support young people’s development; and 

  • Articulating how SEL competencies, staff practices, and the design of your provision interacts to support positive outcomes for young people (regardless of the content of provision). 

  • Identifying how your team or organisation can most effectively engage in training and processes that will support SEL competencies. 

Resources

A series of resources to support you to build a foundational understanding of socio-emotional skills.

SEL Essentials: participant notebook

In this workbook, you will find the following activities: 

  • What does SEL look like in young people? 

Use this worksheet to picture a young person who successfully develops socio-emotional skills through their participation in your provision. 

  • Unpacking the essentials 

Take a moment to explore how the SEL Essentials contribute to the young person you sketched, and what resonates with you/your practice.  

  • Reflection questions (for your SELTOF learning) 

Three questions to help you reflect on the activities above, and on what you would like to learn and implement in your practice through the SELTOF training. 

  • SEL Journey Mapping 

Map out your SEL learning journey – how are you arriving and where have you been already? 

  • Your SEL fuel gauge  

Reflect on the skills and resources that you already have to continue your SEL journey, and what skills and resources you might need to support you in moving forward. 

See more

Further reading

A selection of articles, books and websites offering additional resources designed to deepen your understanding. 

Beyond Academic Learning: First Results from the Survey of Social and Emotional Skills

This is a useful piece of research which explains SEL and its contribution to positive outcomes for young people. Sections 2.1 and 2.2 provide a clear rationale for the connection between work with young people and socio-emotional skills development. 

Read here