What can we notice when one person keeps changing the rules—and what could help without making things less safe?
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A confident team captain keeps changing the rules so one learner is never chosen. Other children notice, but worry they could lose their own place if they disagree.
There may be more than one helpful response. These six prompts are a static discussion sequence, not a quiz.
What keeps happening? Who can change the rules?
Is this a disagreement, unkindness or something repeated?
Who has less choice? How might being left out feel?
What could help without putting someone at more risk?
Which trusted adult could listen and help?
What needs to change so the game feels fair and safe?
These are example response cards. They explain possible impact without scoring the learner or calling one person “right” or “wrong”.
Choose not to repeat the new rule or laugh when the learner is left out.
Speak to the learner away from the group and ask if they would like company or help.
Explain the repeated pattern to a trusted adult who can take responsibility.
You can tell an adult what you noticed, how often it happened and who may need support.
This working panel shows the information a practitioner could see alongside the learner view.
Open guidance page