School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Working with pupils who refuse, engage in task avoidance or endless negotiation in class? Then it may be your pupil is affected by PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) - which is a form of autism. In this essentials episode, Ruth Fidler explains what drives the behaviour of pupils with PDA - and how using traditional autism-friendly strategies might actually be counter-productive. Important links:...

Kids who have experienced high levels of trauma can often feel threatened for no apparent reason. But what's really causing this? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we interview school leader and educational advisor, Dr. Tom Brunzell. Together, we discuss the impact that ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) can have on pupils and he reveals his 5 part framework to support pupils who...

Ever wondered what really drives students to become dysregulated in school? Because if we can work out what's causing their heightened emotions then we can do something about it. The answer is... probably not what you think it is. In this 10-minute snackable Essentials episode, we share a short clip of our interview with Dr. Stuart Shanker, who explains what really fuels dysregulation... and...

Working in a highly stressful teaching environment? That's going to take its toll on your mental and physical health. Stress is like a warning signal from our body telling us that something isn't quite right. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we discuss the negative effects exposure to long term stress can have on your body and mind and we reveal our most effective strategies...

If you work in education, you're probably seeing more and more dysregulated students in the classroom - and helping them to understand (and manage) strong emotions is becoming a key teaching skill. In this 10-minute snackable Essentials episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we share an excerpt of our interview with Leah Kuypers, where she explains how to use the Zones of Regulation to help chi...

Disengaged. Burnt-out. Stressed. Does this all sound familiar? More and more pupils (and teachers) are becoming increasingly disconnected from education. But what's really causing this? In this School Behaviour Secrets episode, we interview author & education psychology researcher, Don Berg. We discuss the real reasons why so many people are disconnecting with education, and he reveals so...

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to helping children. Sometimes, there can be multiple approaches to the same situation that will lead to a successful outcome. This week on our special centenary episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we look back at the past 100 episodes and reflect on the key strategies and insights we've learned from the amazing guests we've had on ou...

In order to maintain a positive and meaningful school culture, it's essential that the school's core values are reflected in pupil behaviour, attitudes and their learning. In this episode of School Behaviour secrets, we interview educator and therapeutic life coach Esther Cohen. She discusses the delicate balance between emotional development and academic progress and she reveals how she...

Working with students who refuse to follow instructions or to do their work? Then you'll know how stressful (and anxiety-provoking) that situation can be! In this special School Behaviour Secrets episode, I share one mindset shift that will make you walk away from those situations feeling empowered (rather than demoralised.) Important links: Get our FREE classroom management scoresheet: https...

Have you ever stopped to think about the power of the words we use? When a child is told something often enough, they can begin to believe it. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore the hidden damage that words can do to our pupils and the importance of choosing our words carefully; separating the pupil from their behaviour. Important links: Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: ht...

Have you ever heard of the term Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)? Some pupils can find accepting criticism difficult as it can feel like a personal attack on their self-worth. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore what is meant by the term rejection sensitive dysphoria and how RSD relates to pupils with ADHD. Important links: Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beacon...

We all know that being active is good for our physical health, but did you know that physical activity also positively affects brain development? In this week's School Behaviour Secrets episode, we interview Dr Julian Reed. He reveals how exercise can improve pupils' focus and engagement in their learning and how physical exertion can even reduce hyperactivity. Important links: Visit Dr....

Are reward charts actually effective? They've been used for years, but have you considered that they might actually be damaging to your pupils development? In this week's School Behaviour Secrets episode, we discuss the 'dangers' of using reward charts and how they should be used effectively to support pupils in the classroom. Important links: Get our FREE classroom management...

Save £250 on National SEMH Conference tickets with Super Early Bird Super Early Bird tickets for the National SEMH Conference end soon, giving you £250 off each place. Join us in October 2026 for a full day of practical workshops focused on the SEMH, behaviour, SEND and inclusion pressures schools are facing right now. Book your Super Early Bird place here before the offer ends .

Social skills are essential for surviving and thriving in school - helping pupils connect with one another, understand social boundaries and cope with the demands of the classroom. But what happens if a student has difficulties with one or more of these social skills? In this week's School Behaviour Secrets, we interview Miriam Campbell - author, former teacher and speech language pathologist...

Ever wondered why children (and adults) lose self-control when faced with big emotions, such as anger and anxiety? In this School Behaviour Secrets episode, we share one simple strategy that you can use right away to help pupils understand and manage their emotions. Important links: Get our FREE classroom management scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-scoresheet.php...

Want to know how to create a positive climate in your classroom? It might be easier than you think! Sometimes, all it takes is making one simple change. In this special School Behaviour Secrets episode, we reveal one trick you can make today that will help to achieve just that. Important links: Get our FREE classroom management scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-sco...

Can advances in technology (including Virtual Reality) help young people with additional needs to better understand how to interact with others and actively reduce anxiety? In this week's School Behaviour Secrets podcast, we interview Ange Anderson, to discuss the current barriers schools face to using innovative technology. We explore how VR can help prepare young people for real life situat...

The lead up to Christmas can be a mixture of excitement and stress for children - and sometimes it's hard to know how to deal with both. In this episode of Behaviour Secrets, we discuss why certain children may not cope during this festive time and offer our top four tips to ensure Christmas is enjoyable for everyone. Important links: Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschools...

Some children change their behaviour and 'mask' their true needs all day long at school. Over time, this can be exhausting and may even lead to burnout! In this School Behaviour Secrets podcast, we interview parent and educator advisor Amanda Sokell. Together, we discuss what masking looks like in young people and why listening to children's behaviour (not just their words) is vital...

It's common for schools to get outside help when they're struggling to support a child's behaviour, but sometimes this type of advice can actually do more harm than good. In this weeks Behaviour Secrets podcast, we discuss why sometimes you shouldn't listen to advice given by behaviour experts, how this advice can actually make a situation worse and why you mustn't ever ta...

Despite our best efforts in school, bullying affects significant numbers of children. And the latest research shows that bullying can actually change the ways children's brains are wired and function. In today's episode, expert author Jennifer Fraser looks at the real impact of bullying on our students - both from their peers and adults in school - and reveals what we should really be do...

Leading a line is an essential skill for adults in school - but very few teachers have been trained on how to do it effectively. Get it wrong and you have a recipe for low-level behaviour and disruption as you move the class through the building. But there are a set of simple techniques you can use to transition your class across school calmly. In this week's School Behaviour Secrets, we reve...

How can we empower students to understand and deal with bullying behaviour in school? When not dealt with properly, bullying has a hugely negative impact on school culture and student and staff wellbeing. This week on School Behaviour Secrets, we speak to Deputy CEO of the Diana Award and Vice-Chair of the National Anti-Bullying Alliance, Alex Holmes. We discuss the challenges of changing whole sc...

Is a reduced timetable a highly effective support strategy - or is it just another form of exclusion? This week on School Behaviour Secrets, we reveal the right approach when using reduced timetables in schools. We'll be sharing our tips and tricks for managing and reviewing these schedules so that you can set your pupils up for success. Important links: Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: h...