School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Summary Happiness is a teacher's best tool. But so many school teachers are now experiencing poor mental health due to the high workload, stress and over-scheduling that has become a part of our modern education system. How can we change this culture within our school system and protect teachers' wellbeing and happiness? In this podcast episode, we interview former head teacher Simon Bol...

Done right, restorative practice can be a brilliant way of teaching pupils conflict resolution skills and encouraging them to behave positively because they care about the impact of their actions on other people. But when restorative conversations aren't introduced effectively, it can result in pupils, staff and parents losing faith in the process. That's why, in this episode of School B...

There's been a worrying increase in children struggling with their SEMH needs within schools. But - as teachers and educators - what's the best way of empathising and engaging with them. and forming mutually trusting relationships? In this podcast episode, we interview Adele Bates, SEMH behaviour specialist and author of 'Miss, I Don't Give a Sh*t! - engaging with Challenging B...

Teaching pupils with high levels of SEMH (or behavioural) needs? Sometimes, it can feel like they're stuck in a cycle of damaging behaviour - and just never learn from the systems of rewards and consequences we use to motivate them. Important links: Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/SEN-handbook.php Join our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaco...

School intervention groups for special needs pupils are expensive to run. and often don't get the impact schools are hoping for. So what are the essential ingredients that make up a intervention? In this week's episode, inclusion expert Daniel Sobel reveals the secrets to running successful intervention groups. He explains how to select the perfect intervention for your each pupil, how t...

Good classroom management is the bedrock of a purposeful classroom. But what are the practical strategies the best teachers use to create a productive learning environment? In today's episode, we share 5 hacks for improving whole class behaviour. That's 5 easy wins to get your class more focussed, engaged with their work and that encourage more positive behaviour in class. that you can s...

Experiencing the death of a close family member will have a massive impact on the emotional well-being of any student. But how do we - as teachers and educator - support pupils through this difficult time? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we interview Justin Wilson, a counsellor with Edward's Trust who's highly experienced at supporting kids through bereavement. She explains...

Many teachers and parents associate the rise in mental health needs we see in teenagers with the move to secondary education. where they are faced with increased exam pressure, given greater independence and responsibility, and have to cope with the expectations of many teachers across a range of subjects. But is there any evidence to support this idea? Or is it a myth? In this week's intervi...

All forms of human behaviour fall into one of four categories. And understanding these behaviour types is critical for managing challenging pupil behaviour in the classroom - especially when a student is affected by an underlying special need (like autism or ADHD). In this episode, we reveal what those behaviour types are... and explain why some kids make poor behaviour choices, get stuck in patte...

According to the latest statistics, it's likely there's at least one child in every class who's affected by Oppositional Defiant Disorder. But what does it actually mean if a child has a diagnosis of ODD? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we take a deep dive into understanding ODD in the classroom. We look at how Oppositional Defiant Disorder affects pupils, what kinds of...

Classroom management is an essential skill for making sure your pupils are on task, engage with lessons and learn well. But precisely what should we be saying - and doing - to make this happen in our classrooms? Rob Plevin is an author and expert on the topic of classroom management. And in this episode, he explains the exact techniques he uses to create a productive learning environment, how to e...

When a child experiences early trauma, or develops an insecure attachment with their parent, the impact can last for years. It can negatively affect how they regulate their emotions, interact with others and cope in the busy school environment. In this episode, author and expert Rebecca Brooks explains the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and behaviour in school, and shares practi...

Classroom behaviour charts have been used for decades to help support positive behaviour in class (and discourage negative behaviour). But are they actually doing more harm than good? In today's episode, we look at the pros and cons of using behaviour charts to manage whole class behaviour. We'll be asking if charts are a great way of providing recognition for good behaviour - or do they...

Since September, have you been surprised by the change in the emotional well-being - and classroom behaviour - of the kids in your class? Noticed less resilience, less ability to focus, fewer social skills and asked... is this just my class? Or my school? To answer that question, we surveyed our community to assess the change of SEMH needs schools are seeing in their students. And in this episode,...

Looking for a different approach to help pupils manage their emotions and stress? That's easy for students to access... and doesn't rely on them sitting still and focussing for long periods, like meditation or mindfulness? In this episode, Deborah Miller unlocks the secrets of EFT Tapping, a simple technique for helping children get back on top of strong emotions... leaving them feeling...

In recent years, more and more technologies like interactive whiteboards have been enthusiastically introduced into classrooms. But has the impact on classroom engagement been wholly positive? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore whether interactive whiteboards (IWBs) are a positive force for classroom behaviour... or whether they're quietly undermining the teacher's a...

Bullying is an issue that affects many pupils. But once the immediate issue of bullying has been dealt with, how do you help victims overcome the emotional impact of what has happened to them? Bradley Davis, who is dedicated to supporting pupils with emotional and mental health issues, talks about his own experiences of bullying as a student - and shares practical strategies for helping (and heali...

Most of us invest more time learning to drive than learning to parent - and parenting programmes are full of valuable ideas and strategies. But why do they have such a high failure rate in schools? In today's episode, we look at the factors that drag down the success of parenting courses, and explore what can be done to make the programmes offered in your school more successful. Important lin...

Looking for a way to boost student behaviour at lunchtimes - and increase their social skills as well - in a way that's immediate and engaging? Therese Hoyle is one of the UK's leading trainers on improving playtime and lunchtime behaviour. In this episode, she reveals the secrets of using playground games to dramatically improve the quality of playtimes and lunchtimes in schools. Import...

Developing empathy is a key skill our students need to function in school. It helps them bond with their peers, work as part of a group and function successfully in the classroom. But what do we actually mean by empathy - and how do we help our pupils develop it? In this episode, we look at the different layers of empathy, how theory of mind (and perspective taking) develop, and share some practic...

Many kids experience difficulties managing strong emotions, whether those emotions are related to anger, anxiety or something else. And often, that lack of regulation spills over into challenging behaviour, or gets in the way of their learning. In this week's interview, we speak to Leah Kuypers, author and creator of the Zones Of Regulation. She shares practical and effective ways of helping...

If you're working with a child who has difficulty regulating their emotions, over-reacts to situations, or finds it hard to concentrate, then it might be they were affected by early trauma in their life. In this episode, we explore how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) actually change the way the brain functions, resulting in highly anxious or dysregulated pupils. And, of course, we cover...

Many children are affected by the mental health needs of their parents - whether that impact is emotional, or having to become more self-sufficient at an early age. And some even find the roles of child and adult have swapped - and they've become the carer for their parent. So how do we help them cope with that emotional pressure and succeed in school? Helena Kulikowska from the charity Our T...

Many teachers and parents are worried about the effects of social media on their children. Whether it's negative comments, becoming obsessed with friend counts, dealing with trolling or chasing likes, the world of social media is piling up new pressures on our students like never before. In this week's episode, we speak to Claire Orange, expert and author on social and emotional learning...

Creating positive whole school behaviour change can feel like swimming upstream. But what if there was a basic formula for achieving success? In this episode, we speak to Gavin Oattes, who's worked with some of the biggest organisations in the world on personal development. He reveals the process he uses with schools to drive positive change - starting from the school's core values all t...