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Personal Development

Building Resilience, Relationships and a Strong Sense of Self

Our Rationale

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Personal Development is a core element of the Alternative Curriculum at Stable Futures and is aligned with Ofsted's recognised framework. It supports learners in becoming confident, emotionally intelligent, and socially aware individuals, ready to make safe, healthy, and informed choices throughout life.

"Emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships."
— Daniel Goleman (1998)

We believe that growth comes through feeling safe, being vulnerable, and learning from mistakes. By providing a supportive, non-judgmental environment, we help young people navigate adversity, develop self-awareness, and grow into empowered, responsible individuals.

Our Approach
 

Personal Development at Stable Futures is not taught in isolation—it’s embedded across all areas of our curriculum and daily practice. Through direct teaching, therapeutic interaction, and real-world learning experiences, we aim to:

 

  • Support each learner in recognising their unique identity

  • Build emotional and social skills for meaningful relationships

  • Promote physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual wellbeing

  • Help young people find purpose, direction, and autonomy

  • Encourage resilience, responsibility, and reflection

Curriculum and Framework
 

All learners have dedicated Personal Development sessions built into their timetables, tailored to meet their individual needs and goals. Our structured framework supports ongoing development across six key areas:

 

  1. Engagement with Learning

  2. Relationships & Communication

  3. Regulating Own Behaviours

  4. Respect & Tolerance

  5. Responsible Decision-Making

  6. Resilience


Within each area, we identify more specific focus points, co-developed with staff, the young person, and stakeholders. These areas allow us to personalise goals and track progress in a meaningful, measurable way.

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What Personal Development Looks Like


Whether through circle time, reflective conversations, targeted activities or wider therapeutic engagement, learners are encouraged to:

 

  • Explore their emotions, values, and behaviours

  • Understand their impact on others and the wider community

  • Build skills for positive relationships, conflict resolution, and empathy

  • Gain confidence to take on new challenges and learn from setbacks


We nurture the whole child—supporting them to feel safe, heard, and equipped with the tools they need to shape a fulfilling future.

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