At West Thornton, we believe children deserve to understand how their own minds work. That is why we are proud to use The Good Morning Club (TGMC) approach from Jen Foster — one of the most exciting and evidence-informed approaches to children’s emotional literacy and behaviour available in UK primary schools today.

'The Good Morning Club' is a research-backed approach to behaviour, emotional literacy, regulation and engagement — used in thousands of classrooms across over 84 countries worldwide. At West Thortnon, Jen's approach supports the way our staff understand and respond to children’s behaviour. It gives our team a shared language, a toolkit of strategies and a common framework rooted in the latest thinking about how children’s brains and emotions work. For our children, TGMC means staff who are consistent, calm and deeply equipped to support them — whatever they are facing. We foster a sense of belonging and connection, so our children grow to become honest, responsible citizens of their community.

Understanding your own brain changes everything. A child who knows why they feel overwhelmed — and has strategies to manage it — is a child who can stay in the room, stay in the learning and stay connected to the people around them. This is inclusion in action. It is the belief that every child, regardless of background or need, deserves access to the knowledge and skills that help them thrive. TGMC sits at the heart of our inclusion agenda — not as an additional programme for children who are struggling, but as universal provision for every child in our school.

To find out more about TGMC click below: