The workshop focuses on understanding student behaviour by looking beyond what we see on the surface and considering the needs that may be going unmet. Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a guiding framework, it highlights the importance of supporting children’s basic physical, emotional, and relational needs before expecting them to engage with academic goals, future planning, or broader expectations that may feel distant or hard to grasp.
The session invites reflection on how behaviour can be a form of communication, and why responding with curiosity, empathy, and care is central to effective safeguarding. It reinforces that safeguarding is a shared responsibility across the school community, and that early support is most effective when adults work together to create a coordinated safety net while respecting confidentiality. By clarifying roles and encouraging thoughtful collaboration, the workshop aims to strengthen a shared understanding of how meeting foundational needs helps students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn and grow
