Protective Behaviours
What's Strong with You?
At the heart of a Whole School, trauma informed, Approach to wellbeing is ‘safety’ and creating a physical and emotional safe space for all, where connection and relationships can flourish, and all children and young people feel they belong.
Protective Behaviours:
- helps develop emotional literacy, enabling us to ‘name and tame’ feelings
- develops self-confidence
- builds practical skills and strategies
- helps individuals to ‘thrive and survive’ in an adventurous, rather than a ‘risk averse’, approach, to life
- contributes to a PSHE curriculum
- supports work on Child Exploitation Awareness and digital resilience
- provides a focus on children’s rights
“The overall message of the PBs Process is even if people are not feeling safe, even if feeling safe is not a usual condition, there exists the opportunity to feel safe, because it is a basic human right. The message is positive, and the process explores how an individual can keep themselves safe and what, if they are not feeling safe, they can do about it”.
PBs and a Whole School Approach
We see Protective Behaviours as another great way to support C&YP's emotional wellbeing and resilience as part of a whole school approach.
PBs and Child Expoitation Awareness
We have recently been involved in the #CETheSigns campaign in Cornwall and it was this work that prompted us to revisit a long standing interest in PBs.
We were approached by a young person who has experienced bullying and grooming online who wanted to share their experience and a deliver clear, positive message to other young people to help them stay safe. We helped her create a short animated film and are currently working on a resource for schools.
About Protective Behaviours
Protective Behaviours is a practical down to earth approach to personal safety. It is a process that encourages self-empowerment and brings with it the skills to raise self-esteem and to help avoid being victimised. This is achieved by helping individuals to recognise and trust their intuitive feelings (Early Warning Signs) and to develop strategies for self-protection. The Protective Behaviours process encourages an adventurous approach to life that satisfies the need for fun and excitement without violence and fear.

We believe that all C&YP can benefit from Protective Behaviours as a way to help support and develop resilience and wellbeing online and beyond. This is fab 3 minute introduction by Sally Ann Hart a brilliant PBs trainer.
Protective Behaviours - What's that?
A short guide to PBs - download PDF