Christmas presents a paradox. While widely celebrated as a season of happiness and gratitude, for some individuals, it carries a darker undercurrent. The pressure to feel joyful and festive transforms Christmas from a celebration into an ordeal to be endured.
As a teacher, I’ve witnessed this struggle in numerous children. Pupils who already face challenges with emotional regulation, or who contend with difficult home circumstances, often find the festive period particularly overwhelming. For these vulnerable children, our Pupil Well-being Worker has has made a real difference, helping them process their emotions more constructively.
Over the past 18 months, Aberdeenshire Council has introduced Pupil Well-being Workers across schools, a welcome initiative addressing a critical need. These professionals, working in both primary and secondary settings, focus specifically on children’s mental health and wellbeing. Their role encompasses supporting pupils through bereavement and loss, whilst also helping them develop strategies to manage social, emotional, and behavioural challenges.
During my time teaching in the Yukon, I first encountered this model of support. Every primary school had a dedicated individual focused on students’ emotional wellbeing. The impact was immediately apparent, not only did pupils benefit, but teachers were also better equipped to navigate challenging situations and behaviours. Our Pupil Support Worker fulfils a similar role here in Aberdeenshire.
The most immediate benefit is clear: students now have a trusted advocate, someone firmly in their corner, who can teach them coping strategies and provide space for restorative conversations when needed.
Over the past 18 months, broader positive outcomes have emerged. Class teachers spend significantly less time mediating conflicts between pupils, as children now have access to a dedicated forum with a specialist trained in these interventions. Similarly, Senior Leadership Team involvement in behavioural incidents has lessened substantially. The result benefits everyone: young people gain a skilled advocate supporting their wellbeing, staff can focus more effectively on teaching, and the entire school community enjoys a calmer, more supportive environment.
Aberdeenshire Council often faces criticism, and running a local authority must surely rank among the most thankless tasks. However, in this instance, they deserve genuine recognition. Whoever championed this initiative and saw it through implementation deserves considerable credit. Well done. Now the challenge is ensuring these vital positions remain funded and supported.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2026 brings kindness to us all, and that we find space to extend that kindness to one another.