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bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
Blue Squid Learning
@bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
44 followers 52 following 46 posts
Alternative education provision in Cambridgeshire supporting young people with school-based trauma and emotionally based school non-attendance.

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bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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June 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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May 22, 2025 at 6:11 AM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
bluesquidlearning.com
May 8, 2025 at 3:10 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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May 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
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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
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.
April 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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April 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
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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
From Compliance to Collaboration: Rethinking Behaviour Policies - Blue Squid Learning
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March 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
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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
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?
bluesquidlearning.com
March 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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What if we stopped forcing young people to fit the system and started making the system fit them? 💙

#Education #Neurodiversity #SchoolAnxiety #thisisAP #YoungPeopleMatter #MentalHealthMatters
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.
March 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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March 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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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
An orange life ring hangs on a white wall.
February 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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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
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.
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February 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
February 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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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
Two boys stand on a pile of hay bales. It's cold and they're wearing coats, enjoying the fresh air.
February 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
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February 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
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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
A grey and white cuddly sloth sits on top of a white bookcase. In the background, there is a star shaped lamp.
February 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
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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
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.
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January 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
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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
Two dandelions stand in a patch of grass. In the background, a blue sky.
January 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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...
Chaos to Calm: How Emotional Literacy Transforms Learning
Discover how emotional literacy transforms classrooms by helping students regulate emotions, unlock learning, and build resilience.
bluesquidlearning.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
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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 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."
January 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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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
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.
January 20, 2025 at 3:45 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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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A quote - it's not being difficult, it's anxiety. White writing on a blue background with pink highlighting.
January 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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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
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.
bluesquidlearning.com
January 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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 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.
January 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
bluesquidlearning.bsky.social
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
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.
January 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM