Positive Handling Law
A one-to-one teaching assistant describes a course that was not all physical, with substantial teaching about the law and how staff can protect themselves. She had already applied some suggestions at her workplace.
Inquiry mentions Foster Carer Training in Conflict and Physical Interventions
An inquiry into Dawn McKenzie’s death put training for foster carers first among its recommendations. Conflict communication and physical intervention should come early in a fostering career and be repeated later.
“Excellent training program for Positive Handling” for Boarding
A senior housemistress at an East Sussex boarding school arrived unenthusiastic, then found the course far more in depth and useful than expected, calling Gerard a first class, highly professional trainer.
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.
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.
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.
Classroom Conflict 3: Showtime Mindset for managing children
Children behave challengingly mainly for task or situation avoidance and attention, and the post explains Showtime, the emotional equilibrium staff hold while talking a distressed child down to safety.
Classroom Conflict 2: The Five Maxims for Effective Classroom Communications
Behaviour systems need a value base, not just points of law. The Five Maxims describe how staff treat children with dignity and respect, so holding a child stays an absolute last resort.
Classroom Conflict 1: Being Alert and Decisive
First in a series on classroom conflict, this short piece argues staff need a pre-planned, practised response and mental models, responding rather than reacting, while treating pupils with dignity and respect throughout.