💬 Emotion Coaching at Cottesbrooke

At Cottesbrooke Infant and Nursery School, we know that all children experience big feelings — and that learning to understand and manage emotions is just as important as learning to read and write.

We use an approach called Emotion Coaching to help children recognise their feelings, understand what’s happening in their brain and body, and find calm and safe ways to respond.

🧠 Why We Use Emotion Coaching

Children are still developing the part of the brain that helps with problem-solving, impulse control and emotional regulation. When they’re upset, overwhelmed or dysregulated, they need support — not punishment.

Emotion Coaching helps children feel:

• Seen – their feelings are noticed

• Safe – an adult is there to help

• Soothed – their body and brain are supported to calm down

• Supported – they’re helped to make things right afterwards

It’s part of our wider trauma-informed, attachment-aware approach to behaviour and wellbeing.

🐱🦊🦖 Meet Our Emotion Characters

We use three friendly characters across the school to help children talk about their feelings and brain states:

🐱 Cool Cat – Regulated

Cool Cat is calm, focused and ready to learn. This is when the thinking brain (cortex) is in charge.

“I can see you’re using your Cool Cat brain – well done for staying calm and making a good choice!”

🦊 Fizz the Fox – Wobbly or Dysregulated

Fizz the Fox shows up when feelings start to bubble up. Children might be tearful, tense, anxious or fizzy inside. Their emotional brain (limbic system) is getting louder.

“It looks like Fizz the Fox is visiting. Let’s take a breath or have a quiet moment to help your brain calm down.”

🦖 Scaredasaurus – Flipped Lid

Scaredasaurus appears when a child has ‘flipped their lid’ — they might shout, cry, run, or freeze. Their survival brain (brainstem) is in charge and they’re in fight/flight/freeze mode.

“Your Scaredasaurus is really loud right now. I’m here. You’re safe. Let’s sit together until your brain is ready to talk.”

🌱 What It Looks Like in Practice

We use a simple, consistent approach across school. Every adult uses this 7-step framework, adapted to the child’s age and understanding:

1.      “I can see that…” – Name what you observe

2.      “I wonder if you’re feeling…” – Guess the emotion

3.      “Because…” – Show empathy or context

4.      “I understand…” – Validate and connect

5.      (if needed) “But it’s not okay to…” – Set a clear limit

6.      “At Cottesbrooke we are…” – Linked to our CUBS Values

7.      “What can we do to make it right?” – Problem-solve or repair

This helps children feel seen, soothed and safe — even when things go wrong.

🧩 Supporting Regulation

Each classroom has a regulation station or calm corner, and we use:

·         Emotion cards to help children name their feelings

·         “I need…” choice cards so they can ask for help

·         Sensory tools and quiet spaces when children need to reset

·         A sensory wall and a dedicated Sensory Room to help children who are overwhelmed

Children aren’t told to “calm down” — they’re given tools and connection to help them return to a place where learning is possible.

💬 Why It Matters

We don’t talk about “good” or “bad” behaviour. We talk about:

·         What’s going on underneath the behaviour

·         How the brain responds to stress or big emotions

·         What support or connection the child might need

Emotion Coaching helps children build self-awareness, resilience and empathy. It’s part of our whole-school, trauma-informed approach — and we welcome families and carers to be part of it too.

If you’d like to find out more about Emotion Coaching, speak to your child’s class teacher or our pastoral lead. We also offer parent workshops on this approach throughout the year.