If Not Now, When?

As part of National Check-In Week, Dr Mark Williams and Nikki Bonus came together to unpack the powerful intersection between neuroscience, emotional wellbeing, and education. Their message was grounded in evidence: to improve academic outcomes, reduce behavioural challenges, and foster thriving school cultures, we must first prioritise emotional wellbeing. Neuroscience shows that students' emotional states directly influence cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and decision-making—making it essential to address how students feel, not just how they act.

Here are six key takeaways from the webinar that illustrate how a neuroscience-informed approach can transform whole-school wellbeing.

1. Emotions Drive Learning

Dr Mark Williams opened with a crucial reminder:

“Emotions are deeply tied to memory, attention, and decision-making. If a child is emotionally dysregulated, learning is almost impossible.”

Neuroscience tells us that emotional states directly impact a student's ability to focus, retain information, and engage. Emotional wellbeing isn’t an add-on—it’s foundational.

2. Behaviour is Communication

Instead of viewing behaviour as the issue, schools must see it as a signal.

“Children don’t always know how to express what they’re feeling,” said Dr Mark Williams. “Disruption is often the brain’s way of saying: I’m overwhelmed, I’m anxious, I need help, I don’t know how to express myself.”

Nikki Bonus expanded:

“For too long, we’ve treated behaviour as the issue, rather than recognising it as a signal. At Life Skills Go, we focus on what’s happening beneath the surface—using real-time wellbeing data to support teachers and students before issues escalate. It’s about moving from reactive discipline to proactive, informed care. Every day, students learn to recognise, communicate, and manage their emotions—building lifelong skills that support learning and wellbeing.”

3. Emotional Literacy Builds the Brain

Helping students name and understand emotions isn’t just beneficial—it’s neurological.

“When students learn to label emotions, they’re strengthening the neural pathways for self-regulation,” said Dr Williams. “This is how we rewire the brain to handle stress and respond rather than react.”

These daily skills are building blocks for cognitive and social development.

4. Real-Time Data Enables Early Support

With over two million student emotion check-ins already in 2025, Life Skills Go gives schools actionable insights to respond early.

“When a student checks in as ‘angry’ every day, even with a smile, that’s a red flag,” Nikki noted. “We no longer need to wait for behaviour to tell us something’s wrong.”

She continued:

“When schools and teachers have real-time insight into how students are feeling—and when students are given a structured way to express those emotions—we enable early intervention. Research shows that addressing wellbeing needs early leads to better learning, fewer behavioural issues, higher attendance rates, and stronger student-teacher relationships. It’s about responding with care and curiosity, not just correction.”

5. The Earlier We Start, the Greater the Impact

Children aged 5–12 are in a critical window for developing emotional regulation skills.

“This is when the brain is most plastic,” said Dr Williams. “If we teach these skills early, they become embedded—not just for school, but for life.”

Nikki added:

“These aren’t just ‘nice to have’—they’re core developmental skills. Emotional regulation, self-awareness, and empathy are directly linked to improved learning outcomes, reduced behavioural incidents, and stronger peer relationships.”

6. Connection Creates Culture

Whole-school wellbeing can’t be siloed—it must be woven into the fabric of school life.

“Connection isn’t just the foundation of wellbeing—it’s the foundation of learning,” said Nikki. “When students feel safe and seen, their whole approach to learning changes.”

“The goal isn’t just fewer disruptions,” added Dr Williams. “It’s emotionally intelligent schools where every child can thrive.”

To shift from reactive responses to preventative approaches in education, it is essential to embed emotional literacy and self-regulation into the everyday fabric of every classroom. Evidence from neuroscience shows that when students are explicitly taught to recognise, understand, and manage their emotions, they build stronger neural pathways for resilience and learning. These skills are not peripheral—they are central to reducing behavioural issues, improving focus, and creating emotionally safe learning environments where every student can thrive.

“When we understand how the brain works, we teach better. We lead better. And we support every child, not just the easy ones,” Dr Mark Williams.

 Watch the full webinar replay → here

Start Life Skills GO today – sign up for a 14-day free trial or book an executive meeting with one of our senior wellbeing specialists to explore how your school can take the next step toward proactive, whole-school wellbeing. 

Join us for National Check-In Week. Together, let’s build the future our students deserve.