Restorative conversations are everywhere in schools right now. They’re written into behaviour policies, referenced in Ofsted language, and promoted as the gold standard for repairing harm and building accountability.

But what happens when those conversations don’t work - especially for pupils with SEND?

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why:

·         standard restorative conversations can break down for pupils with communication difficulties, empathy differences, trauma histories or rejection sensitive dysphoria

·         what restorative practice assumes about children’s skills, why some pupils struggle to access those conversations

·         how to adapt your approach so it remains inclusive, fair, and effective - without lowering expectations or abandoning accountability

If you’ve ever walked away from a “restorative” conversation thinking, ”that didn’t change anything”, this episode will give you the practical strategies you’ve been missing.

Important links:

Download our FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

In 2026 the government is going to make big changes in how schools handle behaviour, SEMH and inclusion.

The question is: are we ready for what that actually means?

In this episode, we makes a series of predictions about where the system is heading next year - not based on politics or policy promises, but on how schools really work when money, policy and classroom reality collide.

Some of these predictions may make you uncomfortable. Others may feel uncomfortably familiar.

But if you want a grounded, experience-led perspective on what’s coming - and how to lead through it without burning out - this episode will help you see 2026 more clearly before it arrives.

Share your thoughts on these predictions (or share your own!) through Linked In or Facebook:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-currigan/

 https://www.facebook.com/beaconschoolsupport

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

Some of the most damaging ideas about behaviour in schools don’t sound wrong.

They sound kind.

They sound scientific.

They sound progressive.

And that’s exactly why they stick.

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, Simon Currigan unpacks four popular SEMH myths that are quietly making behaviour worse - not because people mean badly, but because good ideas have been overstretched, oversimplified, and misunderstood.

You’ll explore:

• Why children do still make choices - even when emotions run high
• The truth about trauma-informed practice (and why it doesn’t lower expectations)
• Why consequences matter even when they don’t “fix” behaviour
• Why SEMH can’t replace behaviour systems - and what happens when schools try

This isn’t about winning arguments.

It’s about clearing away the half-truths that sabotage classrooms and replacing them with thinking that actually works.

If you’re a teacher or school leader who wants calmer classrooms, fairer systems and a better understanding of what’s really going on underneath behaviour, this episode will give you clarity - not slogans.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

The first week of January isn’t just “back to school” - it’s one of the most effective behaviour intervention points of the entire year. In this episode, we explore how to harness the psychology of the Fresh Start Effect to reset classroom routines, rebuild relationships and help pupils begin the new term with confidence rather than shame.

You’ll discover:

• Why January works better than September for behaviour resets

• How to create whole-class “New Year resolutions” that shift identity, not just rules

• A powerful symbolic activity to help individual pupils let go of last term’s mistakes

• How to rebuild safety and trust with pupils who struggled in the autumn

• Practical ways to re-teach routines, reduce sensory overload and reset the emotional climate

• How January can lower PAIN-driven stress and improve SEMH outcomes across the class

Whether you’re a teacher, SENCO or school leader, this episode gives you a clear, needs-led roadmap for starting the term calmer and more connected - so your pupils can thrive from day one.

Perfect for any school looking to make January feel like a true fresh start, not “September, part two.”

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

When a pupil goes from “fine” to “furious” because you asked them to correct one sentence, it’s easy to think they’re overreacting. But for many children with ADHD, even small corrections can feel like rejection - triggering intense emotional pain known as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn what RSD actually is, why it’s so strongly linked with ADHD, and how it shows up in the classroom through explosive moments, sudden shutdowns, perfectionism, or quiet withdrawal.

You’ll learn how feedback can unintentionally trigger RSD, why some pupils take even gentle corrections to heart, and the practical shifts teachers can make to reduce distress, support emotional regulation, and keep expectations high. We also share two simple strategies you can use this week to prevent blow-ups and help pupils feel safe enough to learn.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why did they react like that?” - this episode will give you the clarity and tools you need.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

Christmas is exciting… but in schools, it can also send behaviour spiralling.

Between nativity rehearsals, parties, Christmas jumper day, and all the glitter-induced chaos, many pupils tip from festive fun to full-on overwhelm faster than you can say “silent night.”

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why December is such a challenging month for regulation, the hidden SEMH pressures pupils face and the simple changes that help children stay settled so they can actually enjoy the fun.

You’ll learn:

• Why Christmas disrupts the nervous system for many pupils
• The bedtime routine analogy that explains festive behaviour perfectly
• Practical strategies you can use immediately to reduce silliness, anxiety and pre-holiday chaos
• How to help pupils enjoy Christmas without tipping into dysregulation

If you want a calmer, happier run-up to the holidays — for you and your pupils — this episode is your roadmap.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

Ever had that moment where your reward system just… stops working? The stickers lose their sparkle, the house points barely register, and suddenly every child in your class is asking, “What do I get if I follow the rules?” It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting, and it leaves you wondering what on earth to try next.

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we unpack why reward systems lose power over time – and what the science of motivation says we should be doing instead. We’ll explore the hedonic treadmill, reward inflation, and the classic study that shows how easy it is to accidentally kill intrinsic motivation in children. And we’ll look at why transactional “tit for tat” systems can be especially damaging for pupils with SEMH and SEND needs.

Then we’ll dig into what actually works long-term. You’ll learn how to build behaviour that lasts, how to make motivation stick even when there’s a supply teacher in the room, and how to transition away from over-reliance on stickers and points without causing a classroom riot.

If you want your pupils to behave well because it’s who they are – not because they think they’ll earn a token, house point, Dojo and sticker – this episode is for you.

Important links:

Get your copy of the Classroom Management Scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-scoresheet

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

When pupils show persistent, emotionally escalated behaviour, it’s easy to focus on the surface - the shouting, the refusal, the walking out  - and miss the real cause.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the PAIN framework (Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, Social, Prosocial, and Transition needs) to help your pupils make progress with their SEMH needs. You’ll follow the story of Liam, an 11-year-old pupil whose behaviour seemed oppositional - until the PAIN lens revealed hidden what was happening below the surface and driving his behaviour.

You’ll discover:

• How to identify unmet needs using the PAIN framework – and use this to pick the right support strategies for your students
• Why those needs can mimic “defiance” and “chosen behaviour”
• How to replace traditional behaviour plans with proactive regulation plans that prevent crises before they start

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried every strategy, and nothing works,” this episode will show you how to think like an SEMH specialist - and how the PAIN framework can transform your understanding of your student’s behaviour.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

Got a class that just won’t stop talking? The kind where the chatter keeps creeping back in, no matter how many times you settle them? We feel your pain!

In this episode, we explain why the problem isn’t talk itself, but unstructured talk - and how to turn your class’s social energy and exuberance into focus, rather than frustration.

You’ll discover the T3 Method: a simple way of structuring your lesson, so pupils get the connection and verbal processing time they need, while keeping your lesson productive and the learning moving forward. You’ll also learn how to teach talk routines and support pupils who rely on social interaction to stay regulated.

So if you’re tired of battling chatty classes, this is your blueprint for working with your students’ energy instead of against it.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.

Ever worked with a pupil who argues about everything — even the things they secretly agree with?

In this episode, we unpack Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) — what it is, what it isn’t, and why traditional approaches like confrontation or “tougher boundaries” often backfire.

You’ll discover:

• The common myths that cause teachers to misread ODD behaviour
• The key differences between ODD and PDA (and why that distinction matters)
• How ADHD and ODD overlap, and what that means for your classroom
• What’s really driving the behaviour of pupils with ODD — including the roles of ontrol, safety, and predictability
• And four practical strategies to help you support these pupils without power struggles, conflict, or endless frustration

You’ll learn why your student’s defiance often hides distress — and how changing your response can change everything.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

Headteachers and deputies: Join our in-person event in Bradford
Where you'll learn practical ways to equip your team to handle SEMH challenges with confidence - so you can move from firefighting to a calm, consistent whole-school approach. Register now.