The Behaviour Support Team consists of two arms, Primary and Secondary, and operates within the Pupil Referral Service.

Primary Arm

The Behaviour Support Team will only accept referrals directly from the pupil's school. Any colleagues not attached to a school, who wish to seek support from an individual pupil, must refer the pupil via the Headteacher.

The team works in partnership with colleagues in schools and parents in helping them to support pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The aim of the support is to assist class teachers helping them with behaviour management strategies and enabling them to work with individuals to extend relationships.

It is hoped that by targeting support as early as possible it will help to prevent the escalation towards statutory assessment/exclusion at a later stage.

The support offered time limited for a maximum of 6 weeks, even when Statutory Assessment is deemed appropriate after this time. During this period up to 3 morning or afternoon sessions may be offered each week for up to 6 weeks. Where appropriate, weekly meetings will be held together with school staff and parents.

In addition Teaching staff within the team can offer further support to help schools in their management of behaviour issues.

Such support takes the form of:

• Individual support for pupils and classes
• Consultation sessions and the use of resource library
• Advice and guidance on whole school behaviour policy
• Classroom management - whole class strategies
• Circle Time
• KS1 and KS2 social skills training
• Playleader training
• Circle of friends
• Y6/Y7 transfer
• Physical intervention information
• Anger Management - strategies for pupils and staff
• Training for Support Staff around Behaviour Management
• Self-organised learning strategies
• Anti-bullying, (whole school approach and policy devising)
• Self-esteem programmes
• Pastoral Support Programmes
• ADHD Observation for CAMHS.
  

The Behaviour Support Team is also involved in the development of "Nurture Groups" within the authority.