Victoria Raven Speaker | Creative & PHSCE & Lifestyle & Women & Well-being & Mental Health & Parents

Victoria Raven

Founder of Caterpillar Learners and Calm Caterpillars

The Primary School Curriculum has changed many times over the last 25 years and isn’t designed with emotional resilience in mind. But it is what it is and there is simply not enough time in the school day to squeeze in much more, however valuable.

Vicki founded Caterpillar Learners and Calm Caterpillars in response to parents’ needs and because she noticed a trend in increasing anxiety and unhappiness in under 11s and their parents. Having worked with teenagers in her previous business “Well Kids – Cracking the Teenage Code” she felt it was urgent to intercept these problems at a much earlier stage.

Vicki qualified as a Primary School teacher in 1991 and has worked in Primary, Secondary and Adult Education, as well as wellbeing coaching. She founded Caterpillar Learners and Calm Caterpillars to combine her knowledge and experience of teaching and therapy to provide good quality classes involving movement, co-operative games, self massage, creating, visualising and positive self talk to help children become more aware of their feelings and learn how to express them clearly. She changes children’s self talk from negative to positive in a fun and relaxed environment.

“Health Education is to be made compulsory in all schools in England under new government plans following growing concerns about mental health problems among young people. Children will be taught how to build mental resilience – as well as how to recognise when their peers are struggling with mental health issues – as part of statutory lessons, the government says.” The Independent, Thursday 19 July 2018

Calm Caterpillars sessions are for preschool and primary age children and:

Teach children how to express and deal with feelings
Teach children tools & techniques to manage emotions by themselves
Support class teachers by having better behaved children
Ultimately, children are more successful because they feel calmer

Testimonials from Teachers

"We asked Victoria to run workshops and deliver talks to our students. We have found her to be reliable and inspiring. She related well to our young people. The students enjoyed her workshops and presentations. I thoroughly recommend Victoria."

– Herjit Dehal, Assistant Head Teacher, Langley Park School for Girls

"Vicki was often asked to speak at parents meetings in schools to promote Family Learning courses. She did this with confidence and enthusiasm. Vicki was always personable and professional in her role when liaising and talking with other professionals. As Family Learning programmes are run in different schools across the borough Vicki had adapt to different settings, professionals and families. She was able to do this by being highly organised, flexible and diplomatic and above all by having a good sense of humour."

– Jill Trylska, Family Learning Co-ordinator, Education Care & Health, Bromley.

"Victoria Raven is a skilled communicator. She successfully led talks and activities with upper school students over the 11 years I worked as a school teacher. She was able to engage well with unknown students in the intimacy of a special needs class, and manage large groups of 120-240 students delivering both practical skills and lecture style talks to large groups resulting in positive feedback from both students and parents."

– Angela R Hulm MBA DipM Cert Ed, Retired teacher, Langley Park School for Girls