Member Article

North East Teachers Gain Specialist Training To Combat Disruptive Behaviours In The Classroom

Leading local supply teaching agency First Class Supply has helped to fund over 70 supply teachers in the region to complete their ‘Team Teach’ training, a specialist programme which teaches approved de-escalation and restraining techniques required in schools across the UK.

Reports show that across the UK almost 6,700 children were permanently excluded from all primary, secondary and special schools in 2015/16 and 54 percent of teaching assistants say they have been physically abused or assaulted. As eight out of the 10 areas with the highest exclusion rates in England are in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, the Team Teach course enables staff to feel more confident and competent in their management of disruptive and “challenging” behaviour. Reducing stress by increasing safety and security for all involved is vital to safeguard both teachers and pupils in the region.

By November 2019, First Class Supply aims to have key members of their team trained so they are qualified to be able to run their own accredited courses, which will enable even more supply teachers and teaching assistants in the North East to gain the qualification through the support of the agency.

Stephanie Boulton, director at First Class Supply, said: “Evidence suggests that there is a national problem with behaviour in the classroom and we are committed to ensuring that our teachers are as equipped as possible to deal with that. Team Teach focuses on teaching de-escalation techniques as well as spotting the signs of potential situations that may arise. We are heavily subsidising the course, which can prove to be expensive for some delegates, offering our supply teachers and teaching assistants in the region the opportunity to benefit from the essential mental and physical skills taught for the first time.

“We have helped to fund many of our supply teachers and teaching assistants so far in order to increase the number of teachers who have this skill, making the classroom a less stressful environment for pupils who require additional support in schools.”

In October 2018 it was announced that Ofsted will consult on the three other inspection judgments; personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and schools’ leadership and management. The ‘personal development, welfare and behaviour’ judgment in the current framework will be split into two distinct areas. This change recognises the difference between behaviour and discipline in schools, and pupils’ wider personal development and their opportunities to grow as active, healthy and engaged citizens.

Eric Yates, principal Team Teach trainer at Inter-Face, said: “Team-Teach is a UK wide training scheme which has been run by licensed provider Inter-Face since 1996, and I have been involved with Team-Teach training since its launch.

“Through running Team-Teach learning sessions, I help to provide tools to support pupils with challenging behaviours, which aids in safeguarding the pupils themselves as well as teachers. Both physical techniques and ways to de-escalate situations are taught which is vital to keeping schools safe environments.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by First Class Supply .