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Save Behaviour support services
A behaviour support service is part of the LA and works in partnership with schools, within a framework of inclusion, to help them promote positive behaviour, and to provide effective support to pupils, parents and schools where behaviour is a concern and may have an effect on achievement.
Context
Parents and schools have the main responsibility for promoting good behaviour. But LAs play an important supporting role, providing schools with some form of behaviour support service.
What do they do?
The precise nature of the services provided by a LA's behaviour support service will vary between authorities, as will the composition of staffing, contractual arrangements with schools and arrangements for local referral routes. However, all are likely to provide both preventative services and direct support services for children with behavioural difficulties.
Most behaviour support services will provide at least the following core services:
- advice to schools on developing and reviewing school behaviour policies
- advice and training for schools (teaching and non-teaching staff, including midday supervisors) on strategies for preventing and dealing with problem behaviour
- individual support work with children
- group work with children for example Circle Time, peer mediation schemes, anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution
- support for special educational needs co-ordinators (for example, through networks).
LAs have a statutory duty to provide for the education of children who are educated otherwise than at school. Some behaviour support services include pupil referral units (PRUs) as part of their service.
A PRU is a service delivered by the LA to provide education for children who are excluded, sick or otherwise unable to attend mainstream school (eg school phobics). The focus of PRUs is on moving pupils back into mainstream school as quickly as possible.
As part of its preventive approach, a behaviour support service may provide support to particular groups of children thought to be at risk because of behavioural problems, such as looked after children, children transferring to (or reintegrating into) a new school placement.
Behaviour support services may also work with a range of other providers to support school-age mothers, pregnant pupils and young offenders in secure accommodation, to help prepare for their reintegration into mainstream education.
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Last updated on 09/11/2009
