Positive Handling: What’s the worst that can happen?
A news report on teacher Diane Whitehead, whose leg was shattered and kneecap broken by a karate kick from a ten-year-old pupil at Burwood School in Orpington, leaving her facing a long recovery.
Alerting other staff that you need help in Positive Handling
This training clip covers how to set up reliable alerting systems so staff can call for help. Other staff arriving quickly make a physical intervention safer, so this deserves planning.
Legal Safe and Effective Positive Handling
A special needs behaviour support specialist from Suffolk describes a course that gave practical, legal tools, then recounts using the necessary, last resort check and a taught technique to calm the person.
Classroom Conflict 7: Influencing the Resistant Child in your Classroom
When a pupil refuses a reasonable request, the advice is not to dig in or issue threats. The post explains moving with resistance to gain voluntary cooperation, rather than turning to physical intervention.
Can Online Training help you to allocate the right resources to Positive Handling?
Learner comments on the online element, which delivers theory before the practical day. Responses say it saved time, allowed reflection, and left more room for hands-on practice not reliant on strength.
Classroom Conflict 6: Staying on Track with the Distressed Child
Part six of the classroom conflict series looks at staying on track when a child says hurtful things. Redirections and deflectors keep responses considered, so physical intervention stays reserved for legally defensible reasons.
Classroom Conflict 5: Truly Listening to the Distressed Child
Listening to a distressed child is not just hearing words. The post describes taking information in, understanding the child’s point of view, checking that understanding and then acting on a shared view.
The Six Positive Handling Scenarios in Schools
Six situations that can call for force or positive handling in schools are introduced by Gerard O’Dea, who discusses the common scenarios staff may meet.
Classroom Conflict 4: Initiating successful contact with the child
Proximity helps teachers hold attention, but approaching a child who is losing focus needs care, so the post explains the Universal Greeting and shows it in a video.
Positive Handling 2-minute Introduction video
A two-minute video introduction to positive handling, with related reading on feedback from a special school, feedback from early years staff, and why schools need the training.