Klassen Kage:

EEF: “…there is evidence to support the use of SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) as a means through which to improve a range of positive outcomes for children and young people. An increasing number of meta-analytic (e.g. Corcoran, Cheung, Kim, & Xie, 2018; Durlak, Weissberg, Dymicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011; Sklad, Diekstra, De Ritter, Ben, & Gravesteijn, 2012) and other reviews have linked improvements in SEL with a range of favourable outcomes. These include (but are not limited to) improvements in self-perception and positive behaviour, reductions in emotional distress and conduct problems, school engagement, and academic attainment.”

At St. Peter’s one of the core components of our SEL provision comes in the force of a once weekly 30-minute Klassen Kage session. Klassens Kage, based on the Danish system of Klassens Time, aims to promote students’ engagement in their own mental development by increasing their knowledge about each other and themselves, and thus work for a better mutual understanding and acceptance of everyone – an aspect is to have empathy. In that way, they get a better insight into different perspectives and experiences of wellbeing both at school and in the world in general. What many don’t realize is that empathy is a learned skill. In the Danish education system empathy is considered as important as teaching Math and English, and it is woven into the school’s curriculum from EYFS. At St. Peter’s we strongly believe that empathy plays a key role in improving overall happiness. Within each session children share food to further deepen a feeling of togetherness.

All sessions always include:

• Behaviours for learning within the class- what is a strength? What must be a class target? Do we need to resolve any conflict within our classroom?
• An emotional check in- an opportunity for individuals to share concerns, worries and ask for support.
• What the class are thankful for.

Additionally, these sessions may also include:

• Strategies for self-regulation e.g. breathing techniques.
• Sharing a story of inspirational individuals.
• Discussion of topical issues in the wider world.