Emotional wellbeing for children, schools and families

The aim is not to
punish them.
It is to help them to learn.

When a child struggles in school, their behaviour is telling you something. EMspace helps schools and families look beneath the surface — and do something about what they find there.

CASEL SEL framework 25+ years experience Families First aligned Early Help SEMH & SEL
🏫 Schools & SENCOs
👨‍👩‍👧 Parents & carers
🧒 Children & young people
🤝 Partners & funders
What EMspace offers

Four ways to support children and young people

From one-to-one mentoring through to digital tools and practitioner resources — EMspace works at every level of the support continuum.

One-to-one mentoring
EMspace Mentoring
Direct 1:1 mentoring support for children and young people whose emotional and behavioural needs are affecting their school experience. Grounded in The Journey framework, working with the child, their school and their family.
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Practitioner resources
The EMspace Resource Bank
A growing bank of SEMH and SEL resources for Learning Mentors, SENCOs, Teaching Assistants, Pastoral Leads and behaviour mentors. Structured around The Journey framework, with Explorer (free) and Investor access tiers.
Visit the Resource Bank →
Digital tool
The EMotions Diary
A digital tool that gives children a structured, safe way to express what is driving their behaviour — before it escalates. Used proactively across a class or year group, or with individual children where concerns have been raised.
Find out more →
Intervention framework
The Journey App
A structured but flexible intervention framework for children who need more targeted support. Working across seven stages from introducing the worker through to ending well — keeping the child, school and family connected throughout.
Introducing Brainstorming Team forming Calming Improving Celebrating Ending well
The EMspace Resource Bank

Built by practitioners, for practitioners

The Resource Bank brings together SEMH and SEL tools that school-based professionals can use directly with children and young people — no clinical background needed, no jargon. Just practical, relationship-first resources grounded in 25 years of direct practice.

Explorer access — free
Start exploring the Resource Bank today
Free Explorer access gives you a taster of the bank — interactive activities, staff tools and SEL resources. Upgrade to Investor access (£149/year per school) to unlock the full library.
Visit Resource Bank
Why this matters

Behaviour policies alone cannot break this cycle

Across schools we see the same pattern. A child struggles. The behaviour policy is applied. There may be a brief improvement — then the same child, the same issues, the same escalation. The reason this cycle persists is not a failure of will. It is because behaviour tells us what a child does, but not why.

"Beneath the behaviour lie vital clues that have the potential to unlock the potential of every child."
41%
rise in permanent exclusions over five years
1.4m
CAMHS referrals in 2022 — many addressable earlier
89%
of schools report violent behaviour has significantly increased

Our conviction — supported by research with Birmingham City University and Nottingham Trent University — is that a significant proportion of these figures represent needs that could have been identified and addressed earlier. That is where EMspace works.

What schools say
"EMspace has been working with pupils at St Peter's Catholic School for four years and in that time we have really appreciated and valued the work that is done with our children who are most in need of extra support. Every pupil who has been referred to EMspace has wanted to attend the regular sessions and has given positive feedback themselves. Both practitioners have worked hard to engage with parents as well, which has been most useful. I would recommend the service."
St Peter's Catholic School, West Midlands
Secondary school · EMspace partner since 2017
About EMspace

25 years working with children, schools and families

EMspace was founded by Robert Aymer, drawing on more than 25 years of direct experience working with children and young people in primary and secondary schools. Every resource, tool and framework we produce comes from that lived practice — not a training manual.

The service is grounded in the CASEL Social and Emotional Learning framework and informed by original research conducted in partnership with Birmingham City University and Nottingham Trent University.

EMspace is currently being incorporated as a Community Interest Company — a structure that reflects our commitment to children and young people, not profit.

Grounded in the CASEL SEL framework — evidence-based social and emotional learning
Research conducted with Birmingham City University and Nottingham Trent University
Aligned with Families First, Early Help and the SEND graduated response
Non-clinical, relationship-first approach — accessible to all school-based professionals
UK GDPR compliant — secure and responsible data handling throughout
Incorporating as a Community Interest Company — mission-locked to children and young people
Get in touch

Ready to find out more?

Whether you want to refer a young person, explore the Resource Bank, or just have an initial conversation — we are here.

Mentoring referral
Ready to refer a young person? We will respond within two working days.
Email us to refer
Resource Bank
Explore free SEMH and SEL resources — or upgrade to full Investor access.
Visit Resource Bank
General enquiry
Not sure where to start? We are happy to have an initial conversation.
Get in touch
"The aim is not to punish them.
It is to help them to learn."

EMspace · emspace.org.uk · office@emspace.org.uk