Creating a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment

This guidance and activity document will help you create a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment. Use it when exploring the topics and concepts in our teaching resources with children and young people.

This guidance introduces essential advice on:

• how to manage sensitive or challenging content
• answering questions safely and appropriately
• creating opportunities for open discussion
• using distancing and constructive feedback techniques
• creating a group agreement with pupils.

Resource overview

1. Guidance: Managing sensitive or challenging content
   How to consider learners’ backgrounds and experience and provide signposting for support or guidance.
2. Guidance: Answering questions safely and appropriately; creating opportunities for open discussion
   Tips on how to manage complex or challenging questions.
3. Guidance: Using distancing techniques as part of some learning activities
   Support pupils to consciously distance themselves from the learning before and after stepping into character for role-plays.
4. Activity: Feedback technique – two stars and a wish
   A suggested structure for learners to provide feedback on each other’s role-plays and presentations.
5. Activity: Creating a group agreement
   A class activity to develop ground rules that create the basis of a safe learning environment to support more open discussion.

This guidance was written by the British Red Cross with the support of the PSHE association. Updated in February 2022.