ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how one school succeeded with children with behaviour difficulties, ranging from clingy behaviour to aggression, by helping them use picture books (such as the Colour Monster) and displays to better understand and articulate their emotions. Teachers worked through scenarios with the children each day, encouraging problem-solving as a class, for example after play time. The same strategies were introduced to sports lessons (twice a week) with the sports coach, who tried, as far as possible, to mirror the efforts being made in class, at lunchtime and during interventions. The PE curriculum was adapted for part of the spring and summer terms, to ensure that there were more opportunities for group problem-solving. The chapter notes that the most important change made for the target pupils was ensuring that all staff who worked alongside them used therapeutic responses to behaviour that was challenging or inappropriate, rather than sanctions. Efforts were also made to build relationships; the school introduced regular ‘special lunches’, in which the children could eat with, or spend time with, the same adult.
