Blue Squid Learning

Reframing Behaviour: Moving Beyond ‘Compliance’ Is compliance always a good thing? We explore why ‘well-behaved’ students may be struggling most, and what schools can do differently.

What if “good behaviour” is masking deep anxiety? Our latest blog explores why it’s time to move beyond compliance and how schools can start.

🔗 bluesquidlearning.com/reframing-be...

#schoolanxiety #education #mentalhealthmatters #youngpeoplematter #thisisAP

Academic Pressure and Its Impact on Student Well-being Academic pressure is everywhere, but what’s it doing to student well-being? We explore what pressure looks like and how schools can respond with care.

Academic pressure is everywhere, and it's having an impact.

Our new blog explores how pressure contributes to school-based anxiety and what staff can do to help.

🔗 Read it: bluesquidlearning.com/academic-pre...

#Wellbeing #SchoolAnxiety #thisisAP #MentalHealthMatters #YoungPeopleMatter

Co-Regulation: Staying Calm to Help Them Stay Calm Why reasoning doesn't work when a young person is dysregulated - and what to do instead. For teachers and parents supporting anxious pupils.

New blog:
Co-Regulation – Staying Calm to Help Them Stay Calm

Why logic doesn’t work with dysregulated kids, and what does. For school staff & parents.

Read it here: bluesquidlearning.com/co-regulatio...

#coRegulation #SchoolAnxiety #YoungPeopleMatter #MentalHealthMatters #thisisAP

Recognising Compassion Fatigue in School Staff What is compassion fatigue, and how does it show up in schools and in teachers? This blog explores the emotional toll of care, and what we can do about it.

Recognising compassion fatigue in school staff isn’t just important, it’s urgent.

Our new blog explores the signs, causes and small shifts that can help.

bluesquidlearning.com/recognising-...

#YoungPeopleMatter #MentalHealthMatters #thisisAP

A young woman sits on the floor leaning on the back of a sofa. She wears an orange top and a navy skirt. She is looking down and has her hands crossed on her chest.

An anxious brain doesn’t learn. It survives. So why do we expect anxious kids to just ‘push through’ school?

Maybe learning starts with feeling safe first. 💙

#Neurodiversity #Education #Wellbeing

Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash

The Power of Listening: How Student Voice Shapes Better Schools How schools can listen to students – even those not attending. A reflective look at student voice, belonging and emotionally based school non-attendance.

When students are silent, they’re still speaking.

A new blog post: how schools can truly listen – especially to those struggling to attend.

#YoungPeopleMatter #MentalHealthMatters #thisisAP #StudentVoice

From Compliance to Collaboration: Rethinking Behaviour Policies - Blue Squid Learning

No excuses’ policies reward silence, not thinking. What if behaviour policies built agency instead of just compliance?

Our new blog explores more.

#EBSNA #Education #MentalHealthMatters #YoungPeopleMatter

Navigating the Grey Zone: Balancing Mental Health Support and Resilience in Young People Some students need mental health support. Others need resilience. But most need both - at different times. How do we navigate the grey zone?

Some students seem to cope one day but struggle the next. Does that mean they need more support... or more resilience?

In our latest blog, we explore the grey zone between mental health and resilience-building, and why schools should rethink assumptions.

#MentalHealthMatters #thisisAP #Anxiety

A table top with a selection of Lego pieces on it. On the table is a board with the letters of the alphabet. Each letters has been assigned a specific Lego piece. There is also a board with a secret message written in Lego pieces. Some young people are working to decode this message. Other spy training challenge cards also lie on the table.

What if we stopped forcing young people to fit the system and started making the system fit them? 💙

#Education #Neurodiversity #SchoolAnxiety #thisisAP #YoungPeopleMatter #MentalHealthMatters

Why Every Student Needs to Learn Emotional Regulation When students learn emotional regulation, behaviour improves, learning thrives, and classrooms become calmer. How teachers can support this vital skill.

Students who can regulate their emotions learn better, behave better, and feel better.

But emotional regulation isn’t automatic, it needs to be taught.

Our latest blog explores why it matters and how teachers can embed it in the classroom.

#MentalHealthMatters #YoungPeopleMatter #thisisAP

An orange life ring hangs on a white wall.

No one learns when they feel unsafe.

Anxiety shuts down learning, so why do we keep expecting kids to ‘push through’ it?

What if we created safe spaces first? 💙

#Education #Wellbeing #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthMatters #YoungPeopleMatter #thisisAP #AlternativeProvision

Reframing “School Refusal”: A New Language for Understanding Need How can changing “school refusal” to EBSNA or DAS open doors for young people? Discover why language matters when supporting school attendance.

The term “school refusal” can close doors for young people.

Words like EBSNA or DAS can open them.

Our new blog explores why language matters in supporting students with attendance challenges.

#SchoolAttendance #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters #thisisAP

A black iphone sits on a white background. On the screen is the word anxiety in spiky black capital letters on a bright pink background.

It’s not skipping school. It’s anxiety.

For some kids, school is too much: too loud, too fast, too overwhelming. It’s not about attitude; it’s about fear.

Maybe the problem isn’t the child. Maybe it’s the system. 💙

#thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters #alternativeeducation

Two boys stand on a pile of hay bales. It's cold and they're wearing coats, enjoying the fresh air.

School doesn’t have to be desks, bells, and stress. What if learning looked different?

For young people struggling with school anxiety, the ‘traditional’ way isn’t always their way. And that’s okay. 💙

There’s more than one way to thrive. #Education #SchoolAnxiety #AlternativeProvision #thisisAP

The Importance of Predictability and Routine Predictability reduces anxiety and builds trust in school. Discover how routine creates a safe, supportive environment for young people with EBSNA.

For young people with EBSNA, unpredictability can fuel anxiety. A predictable school day builds trust, reduces stress, and supports engagement.

Read our latest blog to discover how routine - without rigidity - can help.

#EBSNA #EBSA #SchoolAnxiety #thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters

A grey and white cuddly sloth sits on top of a white bookcase. In the background, there is a star shaped lamp.

At Blue Squid, we’re not just about academics - we’re about building trust, creating community, and helping young people feel safe and supported.

It’s a place to grow, one small step at a time. 💙

Curious? Let’s chat.
#BlueSquidCambridgeshire #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters #thisisAP

Changing the Narrative About Alternative Education Alternative education isn’t a last resort—it’s a proactive, future-focused choice. Read how non-traditional schools help young people thrive.

Alternative education isn’t a last resort - it’s a proactive, future-focused choice.

At Blue Squid, we see young people with EBSNA thrive in the right environment.

Read our latest blog challenging misconceptions about non-traditional schools. 👇

#thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters

Two dandelions stand in a patch of grass. In the background, a blue sky.

School doesn’t have to feel like a roller-coaster ride! 🎢

At Blue Squid, we focus on calm vibes, fresh air, and steady progress. 🌿

Think of us as your child’s anxiety-free zone.

Ready to explore? Let’s chat!

#thisisAP #Cambridgeshire #mentalhealthmatters #youngpeoplematter

Chaos to Calm: How Emotional Literacy Transforms Learning Discover how emotional literacy transforms classrooms by helping students regulate emotions, unlock learning, and build resilience.

Calmer classrooms and smarter learning? 🌟

Discover how emotional literacy transforms chaos into focus, unlocking better outcomes for students.

#thisisAP #mentalhealthmatters #youngpeoplematter #emotionalliteracy

bluesquidlearning.com/from-chaos-t...

A quote - white text on a blue background. "My son feels very comfortable in this low pressure environment and he's taken to the child led learning approach like a duck to water."

Sometimes, all it takes is the right environment and the right support to spark a transformation.

At Blue Squid, we’ve seen young people go from avoiding school entirely to feeling excited about their future. 💙

Could we help your child too?

#thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters

A white table covered in objects to help learn about space: a book open to a page entitled: The Apollo programme; a light-up moon; a book about Neil Armstrong; a coloured in map of the surface of the moon; maps and coloured pencils.

We know that progress isn’t always a straight line, sometimes it’s more of a funky dance. 🕺

At Blue Squid, we celebrate the little wins: a smile, a question, or trying something new. 💙

Let’s help your child find their groove again.

#BlueSquidCambridgeshire #thisisAP #mentalhealthmatters

At Blue Squid, we create a calm, welcoming space where young people can feel safe, supported, and ready to rediscover what they’re capable of.

No judgement, no pressure - just a place to start again. 💙

Message us to learn more - we’re here to help.

#mentalhealthmatters #ThisisAP

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A quote - it's not being difficult, it's anxiety. White writing on a blue background with pink highlighting.

If this is the story of your mornings, we see you.

It’s not easy watching your child struggle with something so many people don’t fully understand. School refusal isn’t about bad behaviour - it’s about fear, overwhelm, and sometimes just pure exhaustion.

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I hope so - a good AP can change lives!

once again, there'll be a lack of recognition that some pupils experience schools in a traumatic way, followed by a punitive effect for families already struggling.

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It will be interesting to see the results of this. I feel it could either way: either the full extent of the difficulties faced by some young people will recognised and funding allocated accordingly or...

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Flexible Learning: the Unstoppable Revolution Joe's journey shows how flexible, alternative education can transform lives, helping children rediscover learning and thrive on their own terms.

Flexibility in education isn’t optional - it’s essential.

Discover how alternative provisions like Blue Squid are transforming lives by meeting young people where they are.

Read our latest blog and see how thinking differently changes everything.

#thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters

We’re here to help young people take those first steps forward - one day at a time.

#thisisAP #youngpeoplematter #mentalhealthmatters

A felt blue squid sits next to three succulents on a table.

A wicker box of fidget toys sits next to a red sofa.

A low white bookcase. On the shelves are books with the titles Be Confident Be You, Your Fantastic Elastic Brain, You Are Incredible Just as You Are, Why do I Feel Like This, Emotional Intelligence. There is also a lit star.

A white dog sleeps on a cream footstool in front of a bookcase of books.

What if school didn’t have to feel so stressful?

At Blue Squid, we combine academic support with a calming environment and a focus on emotional wellbeing.

Imagine a place where your child feels safe to learn, grow, and just be. 🌳

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A view of Blue Squid's learning room. Wooden beams run across the ceiling, decked out with fairy lights and low-intensity hanging lights. There's a cream sofa in the foreground, with two blankets and a pillow featuring a blue octopus. At the back of the room, there's a red sofa. In the centre, there's a white table, surrounded by four red comfortable chairs. Under a window, there are two white desks with office chairs and three sets of drawers. On top of the drawers are wooden pots containing pens and pencils. An electronic piano sits underneath a map of the world. The overall vibe is calm, cosy and welcoming.

School doesn’t work for everyone.

At Blue Squid, we’ve created a space where children experiencing high levels of anxiety can breathe, feel understood, and rebuild their confidence.

If this sounds like what your family needs, we’d love to hear from you. 💙

#thisisAP #AlternativeProvision