Today we were delighted to welcome Primary trainees, mentors and Lead Mentors to CTTC for a full day of training focused on supporting the emotional wellbeing of younger pupils.

The session was led by Jo Morton-Brown, a senior accredited member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), who brings nearly 15 years’ experience working directly with children, young people and their families.

Throughout the day, participants explored how emotional needs can present in the primary classroom, including anxiety, self-esteem, emotional regulation and the early signs of mental health difficulties. Jo shared practical strategies to help trainees and mentors recognise what pupils’ behaviour may be communicating and how to respond with empathy while maintaining clear, supportive boundaries.

Drawing on real-life experiences, the training focused on building teacher confidence – not to turn teachers into therapists, but to help them feel prepared, calm and professionally equipped when pupils are struggling. Discussions also emphasised the importance of nurturing classroom environments and the role schools play in helping children feel safe, understood and ready to learn.

The day included collaborative discussions, reflection activities and practical approaches that can be applied immediately in classrooms. It was particularly valuable to bring trainees and mentors together, strengthening a shared understanding of how to support pupils’ wellbeing across our partnership schools.

We are grateful to Jo for sharing her expertise and to all who attended and contributed so thoughtfully to the discussions.

At CTTC, developing confident teachers means supporting the whole child –  and training such as this helps ensure our trainees are equipped not only to teach well, but to care well too.