The hidden phases of attention: How rhythm shapes the brain’s reward system

You know the moments when pupils can’t settle.

One drifts halfway through a sentence. Another loses focus as soon as the task begins. A third seems disconnected altogether.

Every educator knows these moments, and the effect of seeing them, again and again.

These patterns may not just be “behaviour”. Neuroscience suggests they could be early signs of a deeper process that unfolds in three distinct phases. Each has its own logic, each carries invisible costs to learning and well-being, and each requires leaders to think differently about how attention, regulation, and connection are supported in schools.

In this live session, I’ll share:

• What neuroscience tells us about the reward system and how rhythm shapes learning.

• How to recognise the three phases as they appear in the classroom.

• Why these shifts matter for literacy, fluency, and long-term engagement.

• What leaders can do now to support staff, protect learning, and strengthen pupils’ capacity to thrive.

✨ This session will offer practical insight and a sense of calm clarity about what’s really happening in pupils’ minds.

Thursday 30th October, 8:00 PM

You’re warmly invited to join this reflective conversation.