Behaviours that challenge

What are behaviours that challenge? 

Children and young people may use their behaviours to communicate what is happening to them including how they are feeling, what they need or to fulfil a function for them e.g. escaping a situation they feel uncomfortable about. It is important to consider the feelings and needs 'behind' behaviours when looking at how to support a child or young person. 

Behaviours may include ignoring instructions, swearing, absconding, defiance, or more physical behaviours such as hitting or biting. 

Behaviours that challenge may be challenging to others around the child or young person and/or put the child or young person themselves or those around them (e.g. family members or teachers) at risk.  

Why is important to support children and young people with their behaviour? 

Supporting children and young people with their behaviour at school is important as it supports the child or young person in several other areas including academic engagement and attainment, healthy relationships with others, positive emotional wellbeing and learning skills for later in life. Supporting positive behaviour also contributes to a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all. 

Remember, every child and young person is unique and will require different strategies and approaches to support them with their behaviour. It's important to foster an understanding and supportive environment that respects this diversity. 

It might be time to provide further support with a child or young person's behaviour if it is impacting their wellbeing, their ability to engage with learning, their relationships with peers and/or family members or if it is negatively impacting others including peers or staff members. 

What does the law say? 

Schools have statutory responsibilities in relation using their best endeavours to meet the special educational needs of all children and young people in their school, including where children have social, emotional, and mental health needs as outlined in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice.    

Statutory guidance School suspensions and permanent exclusions provides detailed information on the legal responsibilities of those who suspend and permanently exclude children and young people from educational settings. 

What support is available?

National 

Mental health and behaviour in schools: The guidance Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools provides advice on how schools can support children and young people with their mental health, wellbeing and behaviour through whole school culture, identifying and understanding needs and providing appropriate support.   

Behaviour in Schools: The guidance Behaviour in Schools provides advice to schools on behaviour and the related legal duties of headteachers, and members of staff. 

Use of Reasonable Force: The guidance Use of Reasonable Force is intended to provide clarification on the use of force to help school staff feel more confident about using this when they feel it is necessary and to make clear the responsibilities of headteachers and governing bodies in respect of this power. 

Improving Behaviour in Schools: This Education Endowment Fund guidance report is designed to support senior leaders in primary and secondary schools to make better-informed decisions about their behaviour strategies. It includes a number of practical examples of programmes and approaches that should be helpful in schools and classrooms. 

Anna Freud: Anna Freud provide guidance and support for schools and settings working with children or young people displaying behaviours that challenge. 

Norfolk  

Our local offer draws upon what is available nationally, helping you contextualise approaches, and provides targeted support to meet the needs of your school community. Find out more here. Link to graduated offer webpage. 

Identifying needs and promoting positive behaviours padlet: This "Identifying needs and promoting positive behaviours" padlet of resources has been developed to support you in supporting children and young people with low level behaviours that challenge. The resources and guidance aim to help you to understand individual needs and experiences, identify key triggers and functions and plan for positive behaviours. 

The padlet is organised in a way which guides you through step by step: 

• How do I know if a child or young person needs support with their behaviour? 
• What do I need to do? 
• Checklist - Step by step of what to do to support a child or young person with their behaviour 
• Analysis tools - Tools to help identify the needs and experiences behind behaviours as well as helping to identify patterns, triggers and possible functions of behaviour 
• Child or young person voice - Ideas and resources  
• Model behaviour support plan 
• FAQs 

Norfolk Steps Family E-session 

A Norfolk Steps e-session for families has been developed and can be shared with your families.  

The e-session is built on Norfolk Steps evidence-based principles and will support families to use similar approaches as those used in your school or setting, including consistency, understanding behaviour as communication, use of positive language and prioritising positive and nurturing relationships. You can share this e-session with your families through this Just One Norfolk link.  

Training 

If you are not yet a Norfolk Steps school, you may benefit from becoming one. Find out more at Norfolk Steps | Norfolk Services for Schools. 

If you are a Norfolk Steps school, you may find our quick audit enables you to identify some areas where you would benefit from support in effectively embedding Steps principles across your school. Find the "Promoting positive behaviours audit tool" here. 

Staff wellbeing  

Supporting children and young people with their behaviour can be physically and mentally draining for staff; this needs to be recognised and appropriate support put in place, both in terms of training and supportive listening.   

• You can access wellbeing support from a team of specialists as well as 24/7 phone support and self-help workbooks through Norfolk Support Line.  
• Norfolk Wellbeing Service offer a range of wellbeing support offered to adults in Norfolk and Suffolk. This includes self-referral, self-help, social support. workshops, wellbeing podcasts and blogs.  
• Qwell offer free, safe, and anonymous mental wellbeing support for adults. This includes professional support, community support and professional development tools.  

Key contacts  

If you would like some talk to a member of our team for additional support and guidance, please call 0333 313 7165. This phone line is open on weekdays, from 9am to 5pm. You can also email inclusionandsend@norfolk.gov.uk if you are unable to call.

If your query relates to training, please email sendandinclusiontraining@norfolk.gov.uk

Early Years Advisers - for behaviour support in early years settings, contact csearlyyearsadviceline@norfolk.gov.uk