Normalise error and struggle (safe mistakes culture)
Aim (what it achieves)
Reduce avoidance, shutdown and ‘attitude’ driven by fear of failure.
When to use
Before challenging tasks; after a tricky example; with anxious students.
How to use (steps)
Teacher language (examples)
“Mistakes are data.” “Show me where it went wrong—then we fix it.”
Top tips (makes it work)
Use ‘yet’ language; make corrections routine; protect students from peer mockery.
Common pitfalls
Calling out errors publicly; using sarcasm; praising only ‘right answers’.
SEND/PP considerations
High impact for SEND/PP with low confidence; helps reduce disruptive avoidance and shame responses.
Useful for these SEND needs
Relevant SEND Needs
Why this strategy helps
- Builds predictable routines before disruption.
- Reduces cognitive load and supports completion.
- Supports regulation and relational safety.
Universal SEND-friendly: Yes
SEND-targeted: Yes
Tags
Sources
Used in
Common Behaviour Issues (Behaviour Hub)
- Proactively Prevent Work avoidance / blank page / 'I can't'
Related strategies
Use ‘preview–do–review’ lesson framing (what/why/how + reflect)
Increase buy-in and reduce resistance by making lesson purpose and route clear.
Think–Write–Pair–Share (processing time for all)
Reduces calling out and avoidance by building in private thinking time before talk; improves confidence and quality of responses.
Confidence ladder: Team–Pair–Solo
Reduces work avoidance and disruption by building structured support that fades to independence.
Make success visible (worked example + success criteria)
Reduce avoidance by showing what good looks like and how to start.
Vocabulary access for all (glossary / pre-teach)
Remove language barriers that cause disengagement and misbehaviour.
Plan ‘first success’ (easy start ramp)
Reduce avoidance and disruption by making the first task step accessible.