Post-incident debrief: where safer practice is built
The 2026 guidance expects schools to act after an incident. A debrief should keep welfare, facts and learning separate, so the pupil is supported with dignity and the school actually changes something.
Reporting to parents: why same-day communication protects trust
Late, vague news from the wrong person damages trust. The post explains why same-day contact and a written account matter, and sets out five stages starting with welfare checks.
Why “no-contact” policies can put schools at risk
A headteacher asked whether staff should never touch pupils. The 2026 DfE guidance says blanket no-contact policies are wrong, and four problems follow, starting with confusion between avoiding risk and managing it.
Dealing with Intimidating Parents – drunk mum banned from school
A mother who arrived drunk at a Bristol school and bit a teacher was banned from the grounds. The post uses the case to introduce training on de-escalating difficult conversations with parents.
Engaging successfully with Concerned Parents
Morning separations and other difficult conversations go better with planning and careful communication, argues Gerard O’Dea, who introduces a course built on the Verbal Defense and Influence method.