How Can We Create Calming Spaces in Schools? | Kat Booker

In Part 1 of two episodes, Clare and Dave talk to Kat Booker from Meet The Need Ltd, all about creating calming spaces in schools.

They discuss how emotional regulation is a prerequisite for academic progress and personal development, and look at how predictable, ‘low arousal’ environments can help to foster feelings of trust, belonging, and safety.

Kat is an SEN consultant and Senior Team Teach trainer based in Sussex. She is a psychology graduate with experience in both residential care and SEMH specialist settings, where she has worked as a teaching assistant.

More recently, Kat was SENDCO, and Nurture and Outreach lead in a mainstream primary school, before launching her own consultancy business. She is an IQM Assessor, former Regional Co-ordinator for Nurture UK, and was involved in the development of the current SEND Code of Practice. She is also a mum of one, and an avid Redbull F1 fan.

You can find Kat at Meet The Need Ltd, and on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

She also shares three tips during the episode:

1. 1. Our brains work more effectively when we feel safe, and well-designed calm spaces can help children and young people to feel regulated and secure.

1. 1. Reducing clutter and having a predictable place for everything can help to ‘set the tone’ for a calm, quiet space, increase feelings of trust, and reduce risk for everyone.

1. 1. There is, of course, a place for busy, stimulating environments; we just need to consider and respond to what individuals want and need in different situations.

Find out more about making effective use of calm spaces and quiet rooms.

The Team Teach podcast shares the latest thinking in behaviour, all in handy 15-minute (ish) bite-sized chunks. Each episode features a new guest chatting about a different aspect of behaviour and leaves you with three handy tips to use in your setting.