Positive Handling for International Schools
Live, Remote delivery,
anywhere in the world.
We deliver remote, live training for staff at schools in every corner of the world using a tried-and-tested approach.
A highly popular training course to create safe classrooms and safeguard children.
Training in positive handling for international schools will challenge your teams to use their best instincts to precent or De-Escalate conflict, to develop their skills in understanding behaviour and make better decisions in regards to when (or when NOT) to physically intervene in higher-risk scenarios, regardless of where you are in the world!
The training covers a variety of the most common scenarios which staff in schools face when they must deal with behaviour or risk, and gives straight answers to frequently asked questions, based on UK national guidance.
Should I ever attempt to restrain a child by myself?
What is good practice if I see two children fighting?
Should I remove a child who is climbing on top of bookcases?
What can we do about children who 'lose it' suddenly in a classroom?
Our services are in demand from a wide range of schools:
- Mainstream Primary Schools and Secondary Schools
- Pupil Referral Units (Alternative Provision)
- Special Schools and Nurture Units
- Inclusion Teams and SENCOs supporting children of determination.
- Independent Behavioural Support Services
Those receiving our training include any staff working at a school with children who present behaviours which might be harmful, including those with:
- Autism or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Emotional or Behavioural Difficulties
- Developmental Trauma or Attachment difficulties
- Learning Disability
- Mental Health Problems
- ...or simply those children who struggle to settle-in to school.
The kinds of staff who benefit from our sessions, which cover management-level planning, reporting and control information as well as frontline, pragmatic tactics for everyday use are:
- Parents, Governors and Head Teachers
- Deputy and Assistant Head Teachers
- Inclusion Managers and Learning Support
- Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo)
- Classroom Teachers and Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants
Six Learning Outcomes for Positive Handling in International Schools
In brief we focus on the following:
"KNOW AND UNDERSTAND" learning outcomes:
A Knowledge-building programme which develops Positive Handling decision-making skills:
- Staff duty of care under general principles of law in regard to incidents of safety at work
- Staff legal rights and powers under general principles of law to use force with a child to stop them harming themselves or others
- The risks inherent in physical interventions and how to avoid them or minimise them
- How to write a professional incident report to record what happened
"DO" learning outcomes:
Explore with your school staff appropriate and effective practical skills:
- Communication strategies for gaining the child's co-operation (de-escalation)
- How to safely approach, prompt and escort a distressed child from place to place where possible
- How to appropriately gain control of a child who is at risk of harming themselves or others
- How to hold and immobilise a distressed child who is in crisis. to create safety.
- Protection from Biting, Kicking and Spitting during a period of safe holding
- Standing, Seated and Kneeling variations for the control of different scenarios
- Self-Protection and Disengagement method for high-risk scenarios
TRAINING TOPICS FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS POSITIVE HANDLING:
Topic 1) Understanding Behaviour: Staff will be able to use a common framework to describe the phases, intensity and risk level of behaviour they are dealing with.
Topic 2) Non-Escalation and De-Escalation Tactics. Staff will be able to apply a range of different verbal and non-verbal tactics which are non-physical, to reduce the risk of escalation or to defuse situations which are escalating.
Topic 3) Understanding ‘Duty of Care’. Staff will be able to make decisions based on a clear understanding of what their duty of care demands of them in crisis situations.
Topic 4) Understanding the Legal Power to use Reasonable Force. Staff will be able to describe the legal principles which underline their right to use physical force in different scenarios and to know when it is right to (and when it is wrong to) use physical force according to local statute.
Topic 5) Understanding the Risks involved in Physical Interventions. Staff will be able to recognise situations of high-risk and to avoid introducing actions into a scenario which would heighten the risk of serious injury or death during an incident.
Topic 6) Carrying out Safer Holding and Physical Intervention Procedures with Children. Staff will be able to apply the principles of safe intervention with children in a school environment to a number of key scenarios which often occur.
Video Examples of our Course Delivery
Introduction to our Positive Handling courses for schools:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6aq7aJUM_w
The Six Scenarios that Schools ask us to help with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aki5V2CfURE
Our learners practicing Conflict Management / de-escalation tactics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dFn7E07EH8
Our Core Values and Communications Approach:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vagjdiqdek
How can Online Training help us? (with feedback)
https://www.positivehandling.co.uk/positive-handling-online-training/
International Schools Positive Handling Feedback
Great knowledge for difficult kinds of situations ...
“Excellent delivery, useful and highly practical content” - SENCo Sept 2022
"Knowledgeable, able to answer all of our questions and lots of physical examples." - Head of Early Years - Sept 2022
"Trainer had a great sense of humour and was very knowledgeable and could help us determine the best techniques to use in some of the scenarios we face." - KS1 Teacher - Sept 2022
"Great delivery and useful content. I was happy with everything!" - SENCO - Sept 2022
Haileybury Astana // Kazakhstan
Thank you so much...
“Just had 2 excellent days training with Gerard O’Dea on Crisis Interventions. Thank you so much. It was a scenario-based training, with lots of practice” -
Margaret L. Halıcıoğlu, Ed.D
Robert College
Dean of Student Affairs
November 2021
robert college // Istanbul
implemented professionally and calmly...
“Gerard used several different approaches to engage us which resulted in greater participation. He continuously emphasized the importance of safety rules and the negative consequences if they were not adhered to. He was mindful of our restrictions as Muslim women working with a male instructor. He treated us with dignity and showed us respect.
I feel that Dynamis encourages individuals to use effective communication and active listening in the first instance. Positive handling is used as a last result and should be implemented professionally and calmly. I plan to use the extensive online materials that Gerard shared with us to develop myself further. Thank you" - Head of Behaviour Support
Al Maha boy's school // Qatar
Hands on training was great!
“Excellent delivery. Hands on training was great, delivered well through Zoom. Exceeded my expectations and would recommend to my colleagues in other schools" - Deputy Principal
The Ela Murray International School // Papua New Guinea
HI! I'M GERARD O'DEA
Director Of Training At Dynamis
Hi and thanks for visiting our website today.
In over 15 years of working with frontline staff who face difficult, distressed and dangerous behaviour, I have seen time and again how prepared staff can perform well and respond to challenging circumstances.
From teachers to nurses, teaching and care assistants to security officers in our hospitals and social workers in the community, if you deal with people every day, managing conflict becomes a necessity.
I became involved in this work because I saw the power of training and preparation in helping people - anywhere - to stay safe at work and to be more successful in working with their children to create better outcomes.
My team of professional trainers now teach in over 200 training engagements every year around the uk and internationally for a wide variety of public-facing organizations just like yours.
We have sought out the best positive handling training for international schools and the best learning methods in the world and bring them together for you and your team.
positive handling for international schools: the difference with dynamis
As a pioneer in using online training for positive handling we understand how to get the best out of this format, for your busy school and your in-demand staff!
Uniquely flexible to your needs
With no less than 5 different formats for each course we deliver, we work hard to fit into your schedule, your budget and your work - your partner in behaviour management and positive handling.
dedicated to authentic learning
Through our collaboration with Loughborough University faculty, we design and deliver training which has the highest degree of transfer to your working environment.
trauma-informed and responsive
Through our partnership with NAOTP we are committed to being trauma-aware as a team and our problem-solving approach recognises 'all behaviour has meaning'.
Scenario-Driven
Your staff need skills and knowledge which will help you with YOUR specific children and behaviours, so our approach is focused on solving YOUR positive handling issues. See SCENA for more information.
Popular and Proven for Positive Handling
Our Positive Handling training reduces injury risk, improves inspection compliance and safeguards staff, children and your school’s reputation.
We are an Institute of Conflict Management (ICM) Quality Award Centre (#2201) for the delivery of conflict and interventions training.
We achieve this using a robust Positive Handling decision-making framework based on all the relevant legislation and National Guidance for Positive Handling, coupled with a modern, pragmatic approach to the holding and containment of children whose behaviour might harm themselves or others.
We deliver a relevant positive handling for international schools course for your team at your school or service, on dates of your convenience.
Choose from a standard one-day course on an INSET day or a blended/twilight short course which leverages our online training system. We also offer training for Special Schools or those who look after children with SEND by blending communication and de-escalation tactics with the appropriate last-resort physical alternatives.
We also have courses which support your staff:
The two key elements of positive handling for international schools
POSITIVE HANDLING
KNOWLEDGE and THEORY elements.
Your staff are guided through 12 key decision-making factors which are fundamental to good practice in the area of Positive Handling. This Online Learning component may be particularly helpful for schools who have unnecessarily booked Whole-School training in the past.
… WITH A SCENARIO-LED TRAINING EXPERIENCE USING ONLINE TECHNOLOGY…
Our trainer will then lead your staff through the verbal models for conflict communications and the physical Positive Handling tactics they may need at the higher levels of risk in practical sessions where repetition and embedding the skills is our aim.
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR POSITIVE HANDLING FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
YOUR STAFF WILL EXPLORE AND DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF:
How to balance their own safety with the safety of the other children and that of the distressed child. (Duty of Care).
How to comply with the Department of Education Guidance on “The use of Reasonable Force with pupils” for Positive Handling
The Universal Rules for decision-making about when to - and when NOT to - place hands on a child for restraint
How to effectively use Communications and De-Escalation Principles for Common Positive Handling Scenarios in Schools.
How to physically protect and positively safeguard themselves, their colleagues and their pupils during high-risk incidents.
To recognise the importance of Positive Behaviour Support plans and Positive Handling Plans for pupils
How to identify, reduce and avoid the risks inherent in Restraint/Positive Handling interventions.
Specific Physical Skills and tactical principles for how to achieve Positive Handling Control, Escort and Restraint in the pursuit of Non-Harmful Control of Children and Young People
Feedback from Learners About Our Training
Thousands of learners with Dynamis Since 2006
99%
Course Met or Exceeded Expectations
98%
Trainer Was Very Good or Excellent
99%
Training was Relevant and Appropriate
Our Partners and Accreditation
MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Dynamis is a Quality Award Centre with the ICM, a recognised accrediting body in the U.K. for workplace training in the prevention and management of workplace violence.
EUROPEAN PARTNER FOR
VISTELAR
Dynamis is the premier European Partner for Vistelar, a global consulting organisation covering training across the entire spectrum of human conflict.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR 9 ATTITUDES BEHAVIOURAL TACTICS
Dynamis represents the 9 Attitudes system, a fully behavioural approach to self-protection and physical control which is based on the observable realities of physical confrontation.