Mind the Gap: How EdTech and Education Suppliers Can Help Bridge the Socio-Emotional Skills Crisis
A recent report from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has revealed a concerning trend: young people in England are significantly underdeveloped in essential socio-emotional skills compared to their international peers. Skills such as empathy, cooperation, emotional regulation, and persistence—vital for both life and work—are lagging behind, with 15- and 16-year-olds particularly affected.
These findings aren’t just educational talking points. They represent a very real challenge for the future workforce. According to the NFER, if these skill gaps aren’t addressed, up to seven million workers could lack the socio-emotional capabilities needed to thrive in the evolving jobs market by 2035.
While students in England continue to perform reasonably well in core academic subjects, their broader development is falling short. Even more concerning is that the gap in socio-emotional skills is wider in England than in any of the other 30 countries participating in the PISA 2022 study.
Why This Matters
Socio-emotional skills are the bedrock of employability, wellbeing and lifelong learning. Without them, young people may struggle to collaborate, problem-solve, adapt to change, or manage stress—skills that are in ever-increasing demand across all sectors.
The NFER rightly points out the importance of early intervention, high-quality early years education, and support for teachers. But there’s another key player that needs to step up: the education supply sector—particularly EdTech.
The Opportunity for EdTech and Education Suppliers
EdTech has long been seen as a tool to raise attainment, personalise learning, and ease teacher workload. But it also holds immense potential to support whole-child development, including the socio-emotional competencies that this report shows are lacking.
So how can EdTech companies and education suppliers make a difference?
1. Designing Products with Socio-Emotional Impact in Mind
Many platforms already include elements of collaborative work, peer feedback, or personal goal setting—but often as a secondary feature. By placing socio-emotional development at the core of product design, companies can create solutions that actively nurture empathy, resilience, and cooperation.
This could include:
Games or simulations that build conflict resolution and communication skills
Tools that prompt reflection and emotional check-ins
Platforms that support project-based learning and teamwork
2. Embedding SEL into the Curriculum
Suppliers offering curriculum-aligned content can play a major role in helping schools integrate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into everyday teaching. Activities that develop persistence, emotional regulation, and collaboration can be woven into subjects like English, PSHE, or even science and maths.
3. Measuring What Matters
Assessment tools often focus solely on academic outcomes. But with the right approach, EdTech can help schools track and reflect on personal growth too. Whether through digital portfolios, peer feedback systems, or behaviour tracking linked to core values, suppliers can help schools see and celebrate progress in softer skills.
4. Empowering Teachers
Professional development platforms and CPD providers can play a huge role in upskilling teachers to deliver socio-emotional learning more confidently. This includes understanding the science behind SEL, practical strategies for the classroom, and how to recognise and respond to children’s emotional needs.
5. Supporting Parents and Carers
Education doesn’t stop at the school gate. Tools that foster home-school communication or provide resources for parents can help extend socio-emotional learning into the home. This partnership is particularly important in the early years, where the foundations for these skills are laid.
A Call to Action
The message is clear: England is at risk of raising a generation academically equipped but emotionally underprepared. EdTech and education suppliers are uniquely placed to help change that trajectory.
This isn’t just about adding new features or launching another product—it’s about thinking holistically about what young people need to thrive. The tools we create, the services we provide, and the partnerships we form can all contribute to a more balanced, inclusive, and future-ready education system.
Let’s not wait for government policy to catch up. Let’s lead the way—by embedding empathy into algorithms, curiosity into content, and resilience into the heart of everything we design.