Positive Handling in Schools Training

Managing challenging behaviour is a key part of working in education, particularly where pupils may present with additional needs, emotional distress, or behaviours that challenge. Without the right skills and confidence, situations can escalate quickly, increasing the risk of harm, disruption to learning, and safeguarding concerns.

This is particularly relevant across:

• Primary and secondary schools, supporting pupils with a range of behavioural needs
• Special educational needs (SEN) and alternative provision settings, where staff may encounter more complex behaviours
• Pupil referral units (PRUs) and specialist provisions
• Academies and multi-academy trusts, ensuring consistency across staff teams

Our training supports schools in meeting their duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities, aligning with guidance from the Department for Education, Ofsted expectations, and best practice in behaviour management and restraint reduction. It helps create safer, more supportive learning environments for both pupils and staff.

This course combines behaviour management strategies with practical skills, supporting staff to prevent, manage, and respond to challenging behaviour in a safe and proportionate way.

Content is tailored to your school or setting, but typically includes:

• Understanding behaviour and its underlying causes
  Exploring why children and young people display behaviours that challenge, including communication, unmet needs, and environmental factors
• Early intervention and de-escalation strategies
  Recognising triggers and using proactive approaches to prevent escalation
• Communication and relationship-based approaches
  Building rapport, using calm and consistent language, and supporting positive behaviour
• Emotional awareness and self-regulation for staff
  Maintaining composure and making effective decisions in pressured situations
• Safe positioning, movement, and personal safety
  Reducing risk through awareness of space, proximity, and safe responses
• Positive handling and physical intervention (where necessary)
  Introducing safe, proportionate techniques to manage risk when other strategies are not sufficient
• Legal framework and use of reasonable force in schools
  Understanding when and how physical intervention may be used in line with UK guidance
• Safeguarding considerations and duty of care
  Ensuring all responses prioritise the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of pupils
• Scenario-based training aligned to your setting
  Practical examples based on real school situations to embed learning and confidence
• Post-incident reflection, recording, and learning
  Supporting consistent reporting, reflection, and continuous improvement