Breakfast program helps students at a Gothenburg high school feel included

Maria Sergi, the principal of IMA Bernadottegymnasiet in Göteborg, Sweden, introduced a scheduled morning session where students can eat breakfast in a safe environment.

The school moved this initiative from a policy idea to a practical reality by providing food and drink like tea, coffee, and blueberry soup. Sergi explains that the program uses behavioral science to create a calm space where students do not face immediate demands.

While students initially attended because it was a required school lesson, they began to interact more naturally as they shared meals. The program relies on co-regulation, a concept in developmental psychology where stable adults sit with students to calm their nervous systems. Teachers and mentors join the students at the tables to lower social stress and build relationships. This approach addresses a misconception that older teenagers do not need adult supervision or a supportive environment.

The morning session also makes it easier for students in introductory programs to access school services. Instead of students having to book appointments with a school nurse or counselor, staff members proactively meet students during breakfast. Sergi says this method establishes contact without making it a difficult task for the students. The school views this small investment as a way to help students stay in school and develop habits for their future work lives.