Whole School Briefing
Fast, focused 60–90 minute Positive Handling briefing that raises awareness, aligns staff, and strengthens school-wide safety culture.
Quick
Clear
Safe
Compliant
Positive Handling Matters
Risk 1
Lack of Awareness
Staff without clear guidance may feel unsure about when and how to act, increasing stress, risk and inconsistent practice.
Risk 2
Relationships
Schools risk reputational damage, inspection issues, and complaints if staff cannot evidence safe, consistent Positive Handling.
Risk 3
Pupil Safety
Children, particularly those with SEND or SEMH, are at greater risk when staff act without a shared, safe, school-wide framework.
Positive Handling Briefing
A quick, accessible, and cost-effective way to align your entire staff team on safe, legal and consistent Positive Handling.
Fast
Get all staff aligned in under two hours. Perfect for busy INSET days.
Practical
Easy-to-understand, scenario- and case-study-based based content.
Legal
Clear explanation of rights, limits, and duties to aid robust decision-making.
Whole
Designed to be relevant and accessible for everyone: teachers, TAs, leaders.
Course Outline & Goals
Develop the awareness, judgement, and practical skills needed to prevent, manage, and survive high-risk lone working situations
Whole School Briefing: Responding to Crisis Behaviours
Course Aim:
To equip school staff with essential knowledge, understanding, and skills to respond appropriately and effectively when supporting children who present with crisis behaviours.
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this briefing, participants will:
Know:
- The “7 Phases of Crisis Behaviour” framework (Kaplan-Wheeler model)
- Common triggers and warning signs of escalating behaviour
- Brain-based responses to safety and crisis situations
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality
Understand:
- The difference between a person in conflict and a person in crisis
- The principles of trauma-informed care and its impact on behaviour
- The importance of maintaining staff emotional equilibrium during incidents
- The value of creating a culture of dignity and respect
Be able to do:
- Identify the phases of crisis behaviour as they develop
- Apply basic non-escalation and de-escalation techniques
- Respond with appropriate strategies during the resolution phase
- Contribute to post-incident review and recovery processes
Briefing Structure:
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Welcome and briefing overview
- Establishing a shared understanding of crisis behaviour in educational settings
- Building a culture of dignity, respect, and kindness at school
2. Understanding Crisis Behaviour (20 minutes)
- The Kaplan-Wheeler 7 Phases of Crisis model
- Brain function during crisis (fight, flight, freeze responses)
- The SCARF model and how it influences human behaviour
- Recognizing triggers and early warning signs
3. Responding Effectively (20 minutes)
- Non-escalation strategies for baseline and triggering phases
- De-escalation techniques for escalation phase
- Options for engagement or disengagement during crisis phase
- Approaches for the resolution and recovery phases
4. Legal and Ethical Considerations (10 minutes)
- Duty of care and decision-making principles
- Principles of reasonable force when necessary
- Documentation and reporting requirements
5. Practical Application and Next Steps (10-20 minutes)
- Scenario-based discussion: Applying the framework to real situations
- Resources available for further support
- Pathways to more in-depth training for specific staff
- Q&A session
Learning Methodologies:
- Interactive presentation with visual aids
- Group discussion and collaborative problem-solving
- Scenario-based learning using school-specific examples
- Reflection on current practices and improvement opportunities
Expected Outcomes:
- Enhanced staff confidence in managing challenging behaviour
- Improved understanding of crisis behaviour patterns
- Development of a common language and approach across the school
- Reduced incidents of crisis escalation through early intervention
- Better support for students with additional needs
This briefing serves as an introduction to crisis behaviour management and should be complemented by more intensive training for staff who regularly work with students displaying challenging behaviours. Follow-up workshops focusing on practical skills and team-based approaches are recommended for comprehensive staff development.
Crisis Response for Schools: An Online Training Course for Staff
This 90-minute online training course delivered through our Learning Management System equips school staff with essential knowledge and skills to respond appropriately and effectively when children present with crisis behaviors. Using the Know, Understand, Do (KUD) framework, this course combines video presentations and knowledge check exercises to ensure comprehensive learning.
Course Overview
The course focuses on providing school staff with a foundation in crisis behavior recognition, prevention, and appropriate response techniques. Participants will complete interactive modules covering legal frameworks, behavior phases, de-escalation strategies, and best practices for maintaining safety in educational environments.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The Kaplan Wheeler model of Crisis Behavior and the 7 phases of crisis behavior
- Relevant legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality principles
- Health and Safety implications including Duty of Employer (Section 2) to Staff and Duty of Employer to Others (Section 3)
- The principles of reasonable force and when it should (and should NOT) be used
- Risk factors associated with physical interventions and warning signs
Understand:
- The importance of non-escalation and using primary prevention strategies wherever possible
- How trauma impacts baseline behavior and triggers escalation
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions
- The effects of survival hormones and perceptual narrowing during crisis situations
Be able to do:
- Recognize pre-incident indicators and signs of escalating behavior
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques
- Identify appropriate responses for different phases of crisis behavior
- Make informed decisions about when physical intervention might be necessary
- Document and report incidents appropriately
Course Structure and Content
Module 1: Understanding Crisis Behavior (25 minutes)
- Video Presentation: Introduction to the Kaplan Wheeler model of Crisis Behavior
- Interactive Diagram: The 7 phases of crisis behavior
- Video Case Study: Recognizing triggers and early warning signs
- Knowledge Check: Identifying behavior phases and appropriate responses
Module 2: Legal and Ethical Frameworks (20 minutes)
- Video Presentation: Duty of Care and Decision Making
- Animated Explainer: Principles of Reasonable Force
- Case Study: When force should never be used
- Knowledge Check: Applying legal principles to scenario-based questions
Module 3: De-escalation Strategies (25 minutes)
- Video Demonstration: Effective verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques
- Interactive Exercise: Recognizing vulnerability and using special needs strategies
- Video Case Study: Redirecting negative behavior
- Knowledge Check: Selecting appropriate de-escalation approaches
Module 4: Risk Management and Documentation (20 minutes)
- Video Presentation: Understanding injury risks and physical intervention hazards
- Flowchart: Decision-making process for crisis situations
- Demonstration: Proper documentation and reporting procedures
- Final Knowledge Check: Comprehensive assessment covering all modules
Delivery Method
This course is delivered through our Moodle Learning Management System, which tracks participant progress including:
- Login times and duration
- Time spent on each learning module
- Video viewing completion
- Quiz attempts and scores
Participants must achieve a minimum score of 80% on each knowledge check to be certified as having completed the course.
Learning Methodologies
Our online training format is designed to create baseline knowledge and understanding of key theoretical ideas and guidance which learners can leverage to make better decisions in real-world situations. The concept is to ‘flip the classroom’ so that core knowledge material is introduced before any in-person training, giving learners and trainers the most efficient use of their time together.
Reinforcement and Follow-Up
This 90-minute online course serves as a foundation for understanding crisis behaviors and appropriate responses. For comprehensive skills development, this course should be complemented with in-person physical skills training, as physical intervention techniques cannot be effectively taught or assessed online.
Upon completion, participants will have access to our resources folder containing guidance documents and templates that support the implementation of positive handling policies and procedures.
NOTE: While this online course provides essential knowledge and understanding, physical intervention skills must always be delivered in person so that staff can experience and understand holding tactics under proper assessment from a qualified trainer.
Half-Day Positive Handling: Supporting Children in Distress with Regulation-First Approaches
Course Aim
To equip school staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to effectively manage challenging behaviors in educational settings, using regulation-first approaches that prioritize dignity and respect while ensuring safety for all.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this blended learning course, participants will:
Know:
- The context and legal basis of Positive Handling in schools, including Human Rights Act considerations
- The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler) and the SCARF Model for understanding dysregulated behavior
- Brain-based approaches to understanding trauma, ACEs, and challenging behaviors in children
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality when supporting children in distress
- Risk factors and warning signs when working with dysregulated children in classroom settings
Understand:
- The core principle that every child experiencing distress should be treated with dignity and respect
- How staff Duty of Care should influence decision-making when managing incidents in school environments
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions for dysregulated behavior
- The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and applying regulation-first approaches
- When it may be appropriate or necessary to hold a child, and when it may NOT be appropriate
- How to minimize risks when physical interventions are used as a last resort
Be able to do:
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques with children experiencing distress
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and holds when necessary
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques in classroom environments
- Clearly articulate the rationale for different interventions using a regulation-first framework
- Apply good-practice guidance to common high-risk incidents in educational settings
Course Format
This intensive short-format course uses a blended flipped-classroom approach:
- Pre-course online learning (90 minutes): Participants complete foundational theory modules through our online learning management system (LMS), covering legal frameworks, theoretical models, and core principles of positive handling
- In-person training (3 hours): Intensive practical session focusing on scenario-driven training using the SCENA approach (research-informed and evidence-based), with hands-on practice of de-escalation techniques and physical skills
Target Audience
- Teaching staff in mainstream primary and secondary schools
- Staff in special educational needs settings
- Early years practitioners
- Learning support assistants
- School leadership teams
Training Methodologies
Our training combines multiple evidence-based approaches:
- Scenario-driven training using the SCENA approach
- Practical role-play of common school scenarios involving children with dysregulated behavior
- Interactive discussions and problem-solving around regulation-first strategies
- Physical skills practice in a supportive environment
- Video case studies and analysis of classroom situations
Tailoring and Relevance
This training is specifically designed for YOUR staff working with YOUR children who present with behaviors of concern. The course is customized based on a Training Needs Analysis to address your school’s unique environment, whether Early Years, Mainstream Primary, SEN contexts, Secondary Schools, or other educational settings.
Legal and Medical Review
Our training content is tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe. All physical intervention techniques are developed with expert input and would withstand scrutiny in legal proceedings.
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility
All Dynamis trainers have extensive experience in education settings and are certified in positive handling techniques. Our trainers maintain current knowledge of legal frameworks and best practices in supporting children with complex needs.
Resources Provided
Participants will receive:
- Comprehensive digital handbook with reference materials
- Access to our online learning portal for 12 months
- Quick reference guides for classroom implementation
- Templates for incident reporting and reflection
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
The effectiveness of this training will be measured through:
- Pre and post-course knowledge assessments
- Practical skills evaluations during the in-person session
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning (optional extra)
To ensure sustained implementation and skill retention:
- Monthly micro-learning refreshers delivered via email
- Optional quarterly virtual Q&A sessions with trainers
- Access to case study libraries and scenario discussion forums
- Guidance for team leaders on conducting mini-refresher sessions
- Follow-up surveys at 3 and 6 months post-training
- Analysis of incident reports and outcomes in your setting
Sustain & Enhance
A training day energises a team, then it fades. Sustain & Enhance keeps skills current with refresher sessions, toolbox talks and year-round support, so practice stays consistent after the course ends.
Organisation Development
Some changes need more than a course. Organisation Development aligns leadership, policy and practice across a school or trust, so the decisions staff make after an incident match what they were taught.
Other courses we run
Every course we teach for schools, with the setting and duration it suits.
- Crisis Intervention & Self-Harm one day
- Fostering & Parents one day
- One Day Positive Handling one day
- Positive Handling formats overview
- SEND Training two days
- Engaging with Parents half day
- Train the Trainer five days
- Two-Day PBIS two days
Proven Impact
Hundreds of schools use our short Positive Handling briefings to raise awareness, reduce risk, and satisfy inspection standards.
“The briefing gave our whole staff team clarity, confidence, and consistency. It was the perfect starting point.”
Headteacher, Primary
Our Support
From initial awareness briefings to full-day training, we guide schools at every step to create confident, safe, and compliant teams.
Your Path
From preparation to implementation
PREPARE
TRAIN
IMPLEMENT
Full-day, blended or train-the-trainer: which format fits which setting?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should become a trainer?
What qualification will trainers receive?
How many staff can our trainers teach?
What ongoing support is provided?
Is this course Ofsted compliant?
Starting from £99 per learner per day for most teams.
Face-to-face, in-house across the UK. Tell us your team size and we will price it properly.
Guides
Download our Positive Handling starter guide for schools.
Contact Us
Ready to explore Positive Handling training for your staff team? Let’s talk today.