Senior managers, teachers and assistants should be given systematic training in behaviour management, in a bid to tackle disruptive pupils, says a new report by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).
The report, Managing Challenging Behaviour, analyses behaviour in early years’ provision, mainstream and special schools, pupil referral units (PRUs), secure training centres and colleges.
The most common form of poor behaviour is persistent, low-level disruption of lessons, more often by boys than girls, while extreme acts of violence remain very rare, say researchers. But wide variations in schools’ own reporting of ‘challenging behaviour’ reflect the confusion about its meaning.
Many disruptive children have special educational needs and many have poor language skills. Literacy problems often start early and continue into secondary school, limiting academic achievement and fostering disengagement.
But strong leadership, effective teaching and an appropriate curriculum make behaviour significantly better. Other factors that improve behaviour include: consistent rewards for good behaviour; a strong sense of community and close links with parents.
The report recommends that schools, colleges and PRUs should provide training in behaviour management, and improve the literacy and communication skills of pupils with difficult behaviour. It calls on local education authorities to build on current teacher training programmes.
Managing Challenging Behaviour is available on the Ofsted website at: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk
