Words Matter launches free resource to support teachers in how they communicate with children

Children’s charity Words Matter has launched a new free, evidence-based resource for teachers designed to support classroom communication and help strengthen children’s sense of belonging so that they feel valued, safe, and ready to learn. Words Matter: A practical guide for communicating with children in any classroom so that they flourish has been developed in collaboration with Dr Fiona Pienaar, a child and adolescent mental health specialist and former teacher, and Delyth Lynch, Director of Safeguarding at Wellington College. It offers practical strategies for everyday classroom situations, from supporting children of all ages who are struggling or disengaged, to giving feedback, setting boundaries, and building confidence and resilience. The resource is grounded in the understanding that behaviour is a form of communication, and highlights how small shifts in the language adults use can have a meaningful impact on children’s wellbeing, motivation, and engagement in learning. The launch of the resource comes as the 2026 draft update to the UK government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance explicitly recognises verbal abuse for the first time within the definition of emotional abuse. The resource is now freely available from Words Matter, alongside a free online course designed for anyone working with children and young people.