Chapter 3 – Building Capacity to Support Learner sense of Belonging

There’s often an assumption that promoting school values or focusing on outward symbols of belonging can foster a strong sense of community among learners. Belonging is about relationships within an organisation – between learners themselves, and between learners and staff.

Practical examples:

• Adding personal stories or testimonials from learners who have experienced these activities could make the writing more relatable and compelling. Sharing individual experiences can help readers connect emotionally with the content.
• Introducing subheadings for each main point or activity would enhance readability and organisation. This way, readers can easily navigate the text and understand the structure, making key ideas stand out.
• Involving students in lunchtime and after-school clubs can be another good way of promoting bonds with peers.
• Even in normal-sized class groups we can help students feel “seen” as individuals by having them complete a personal profile at the start of the year for their form tutor to read (Gross 2024).