The Culture of the Heart
Relationship is the heart of learning
When children feel safe, valued and connected, they have more room to be curious, make mistakes and learn.
The Culture of the Heart is a practical whole-school framework that helps primary schools develop emotional intelligence, character and healthy relationships.
Through engaging lessons and simple daily habits, pupils learn to understand their emotions, take responsibility for their actions, and build respectful, supportive communities rooted in kindness and healthy relationships—skills that shape not only behaviour in school, but the way children relate to others throughout life.
Schools using Culture of the Heart report calmer classrooms, deeper connections across their communities, and meaningful improvements in wellbeing and learning.
The Culture of the Heart is proven to work best by building
relationships from the ground up. We'd love to talk to you
about your school community and how we can help.
The Culture of the Heart Story
The Culture of the Heart grew out of a deep belief in children and teachers. A passion for creativity, play and togetherness, with a lot of research and faith in what can change when we feel safe and valued in our relationships.
When children feel safe, valued and connected, they have more room to be curious, make mistakes and learn. When the brain and body are on alert, stress can make it harder for the prefrontal cortex to do some of the things children rely on in the classroom, like paying attention, holding an idea in mind and thinking flexibly.
Our resources support relational and emotional connection, not just teacher to child, but peer to peer. The resources support the development of shared values and a culture where children feel safe, supporting the development of emotional intelligence, empathy, the understanding of the characteristics that develop healthy relationships, and shared values that support the type of culture where we feel seen, heard, valued and where we belong.
Our story began in 2014 with artist-led workshops in primary schools, exploring the impact of words and helping children understand the characteristics and values that support healthy relationships and classroom communities. Working alongside headteachers and staff, those workshops grew into our first well-being teaching resources in 2016. Over the following decade, we worked on the ground in classrooms and with whole primary schools to trial and refine the materials, drawing on neuroscience, coaching, counselling, trauma-informed practice and an understanding of how we experience emotions in our bodies and brains - but mostly with children.
Today, The Culture of the Heart is a practical whole-school framework. Through creative lessons and simple daily habits, children learn to find words for what they feel, set and respect boundaries, and build relationships where they can be honest and kind. The resources give staff and families a shared language so they can support children to practise these skills in the classroom, in the playground and at home.
The resources were developed with a wide range of primary school communities and are now available to schools internationally.
