Executive functions sandbox - Where can you spot them and where can you support them - A guide for active learning and self-regulation

Oct 23, 2026

Executive functions in everyday life are explored as practical skills for active learning, adjusting to expectations, independence, and making “good” decisions. The session debunks myths that executive functions matter only for struggling children or can be solved once via “brain games.” It highlights self-regulation as a foundation for lifelong learning, outlines screening and strengths/difficulties signals, and presents universal supports, routines, predictable environments, and classroom or wider-school strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Check up: Your own executive functions skills

Myth busting

Executive functions and self-regulation

Screening tool (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)

Many ways to support executive functions and self-regulation

Routines and predictability

Scaffolding with a prepared environment

Supporting executive functions in a classroom

Supporting executive functions in the wider school day

| | | | --- | --- | | Executive functions sandbox
Prof Sara Baker
Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025
Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | | Executive functions in everyday life Skills for active learning, adjusting to expectations, being independent, making‘good’ decisions Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025 Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | Check up: Your own executive functions skills | | | --- | --- | | Using the executive functions questionnaire…
What are your executive function superpowers?
Are there any areas that are more difficult for you? |
Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025
Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | Myth busting Executive functions matter only for children who are struggling on the fringes. Executive functions can be trained with‘brain games’. Once developed, we don’t need to focus on executive functions any more. Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025 Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive Executive functions and self-regulation as a foundation for lifelong learning Getty Images Universal supports can be less stigmatizing and ensure nobody misses out. | Executive functions and self-regulation | | | --- | --- | | Diverse trajectories of regulation
e.g. emotion regulation and the pandemic cohort
Screening tool
(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire)
• Often has temper tantrums or hot tempers
• Constantly fidgeting or squirming
• Can stop and think things out before acting
• Sees tasks through to the end, good attention span |
Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025
Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | Executive functions and self-regulation EEF evidence review Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025 Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive Many ways to support executive functions and self-regulation Routines and predictability Drepme tnatl liandot linear and requires sustained shaping. Scaffolding with a prepared environment promotes focus EF/ SR interventions that are given a few not tend to show broad benefits, even if for several weeks. minutes per day do they are delivered think about EF/ SR skills as foundational them consistently throughout all. Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025 Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | Supporting executive functions in a classroom | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Video
• Can you identify…
• Goldilocks challenge?
• Meaning for children?
• Thinking about thinking? | | | | Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025
Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive | | | Supporting executive functions in the wider school day • Room routines • E.g. Self-register; visual timetable • Transitions • E.g. through cues like a bell or a song • Aspects of the environment that scaffold learner’s thinking and feelings • E.g. posters with emotional expressions Cambridge Schools Conference, December 2025 Future-ready: preparing learners to thrive

FAQs

What are executive functions in everyday life according to the session?

They include skills for active learning, adjusting to expectations, being independent, and making “good” decisions.

Which myths about executive functions does the session challenge?

It challenges the idea that executive functions matter only for children struggling on the fringes, that they can be fixed only with “brain games,” and that support is no longer needed once skills are developed.

What kinds of supports help executive functions and self-regulation?

The session emphasizes universal, less stigmatizing supports, predictable routines, scaffolding through a prepared environment, and consistent EF/SR interventions delivered regularly rather than only briefly.

Oct 23, 2026

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