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Teaching Assistants' (TAs') roles in mainstream English primary schools continue to evolve. Research suggests TAs play a vital role in managing behaviour and can have benefits for both teachers and children in relation to supporting positive behaviour in the classroom. However, there is a lack of clarity in what constitutes TAs' role, particularly when their pedagogical contribution outweighs any other form of support provided to schools. With a lack of clarity in what constitutes the teachers' and the TAs' role, TAs' responsibilities for managing behaviour are opaque. As a result, opportunities for TAs to manage behaviour can be reduced due to their concerns over undermining teachers. The research this paper draws on found TAs were often passive observers in relation to behaviour management as they did not understand how their role correlated to that of teachers'. The concept of what TAs in this research described as 'knowing their place' in relation to managing behaviour will be introduced and discussed. Strategies to support TAs in 'knowing their place' in a positive, as opposed to pejorative way in managing behaviour will be considered through a range of different approaches to their direct work with children and teachers. The paper then concludes with some 'next steps' for schools to consider in supporting TAs to affirmatively find their 'place' in managing behaviour.

This paper presents a systematic literature review investigating the views gathered from children and young people (CYP) identified as having Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties. Whilst there is great interest in the area of children's views, there is limited research in the views of pupils with BESD/SEMH. This literature review seeks to identify areas to consider in future research alongside educational practice with pupils with BESD. This paper systematically reviews seven articles which reflect on the educational experiences of pupils with BESD. The paper will discuss the common characteristics in pupil views reported across the seven pieces of research. Strengths and limitations of this review will be identified and finally how best to facilitate the process of listening to the views of pupils with BESD.

The inclusion of the student perspective in helping to promote more effective learning, engagement and positive behaviour is becoming increasingly evident in both educational research and school and classroom practice. Giving students the opportunity to have a meaningful and influential voice enhances both the teaching and learning processes, impacting both academic and social behaviours. The student voice perspective is also making inroads into the area of special educational needs, where children are participating more actively in their own assessment and individual educational plans. This paper presents the findings of a project in a nurture class (NC) in Malta which sought to capture the views of the pupils attending NCs. Through a child friendly, qualitative approach young children were given the opportunity to discuss and express their feelings and thoughts of what it means for them to be a pupil in a NC in primary school. The paper presents the themes which emerged from a thematic analysis of children's voices during semi-structured group interviews and collaborative mapping and poster design, and concludes with suggestions on how the NC may operate as a more child friendly space at the school.

This paper raises questions about schools as positive models of caring societies. Against a background of growing concern for the mental health of children it addresses the centrality of "nurture" and its close cousin "care" as a whole school value, theorised as both a means and an end of schooling. How might school leaders communicate a principle of mutual care and inspire whole school commitment from staff, pupils and parents? Discussion is informed by qualitative data (interviews, focus groups and observations) from a comparative study of seven schools in the NW of England which use the principles and practices of nurture groups. Three demonstrated strong leadership based on "deep care" and an emphasis on ongoing relationships with children. The paper concludes that leadership, as evidenced in the good practice reported here, can go some way towards bringing about the ideal of a whole school ethos of care.

Children with attachment difficulties can experience barriers to learning and their externalising and internalising behaviours can challenge staff: ultimately, such encounters may result in exclusion from school. This paper examines how settings can support the inclusion of pupils with attachment difficulties, through employing a specific member of staff who is not the teacher (1:1), as an additional attachment figure; hereafter, termed a key adult. Using mixed methods, my multiple-case study applies attachment, and secure base, theories to the educational context and evaluates the impact and efficacy of developing supportive relationships with two at-risk children (Child A and B). The findings suggest that key adults can support areas of social, emotional, and behavioural skills previously believed impervious to change. Furthermore, such individuals enable pupils with attachment difficulties to attain equal opportunities and safeguard against exclusion.

Children identified with special educational needs (SEN) and behavioural difficulties present extra challenges to educators and require additional supports in school. This paper presents views from special educational needs coordinators (SENCos) on various strategies used by educators to support children identified with SEN and problematic behaviours. The data were collected from telephone interviews with six SENCos from the UK's South West Peninsula. The SENCos were invited to participate because their school was participating in a cluster-randomised trial of a teacher classroom management course (Incredible Years). Using thematic analysis to analyse the data, this paper illustrates strategies deemed by SENCos to be successful in the support of children identified with SEN. The management strategies generated by participating SENCos were then mapped onto those taught as part of the classroom management course for comparison. Findings indicate that strategies from the training programme appear to be appropriate for children identified with both SEN and behavioural difficulties.

Studies in north-western Australia Aboriginal communities identified executive functioning and behavioural regulation as significant issues for children. Exposure to alcohol prenatally and adverse childhood experiences are known risk factors for impaired self-regulation and executive function, these risk factors being present in remote communities. In response, a partnership was initiated to trial a teacher-delivered self-regulation intervention based on the Alert Program®. While student outcomes were assessed, this paper describes the implementation and impact of the intervention on teachers through the five dimensions of the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance). Trained classroom teachers (n = 29) delivered eight Alert Program® lessons to students over 8- weeks. Impact and implementation outcomes were assessed through teacher training and student lesson attendance data, and pre-training and post-intervention teacher questionnaires. Data were analysed using paired-samples t-tests and descriptive statistics. Eighty-one to 100% of prescribed lessons were implemented and teacher understanding of self-regulation and the Alert Program® improved significantly following the intervention (n = 14, p = 0.001). Most teachers (88%) reported changing their teaching and behaviour management practices because of the intervention and agreed there were benefits in teaching the Alert Program® to students in a region with high reported rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and self-regulation impairment.

This paper presents findings from a year-long qualitative study of three primary schools in South-East England, focussing on the importance of leadership in changing the culture of a school. In each school, the aim was to embed nurturing principles across the whole school, not just run a nurture group as a specialist intervention. The underlying research question is: how did the head teacher and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) embed the decision to apply a nurturing culture to the whole school? Findings relate to the style of leadership and particularly the process by which the leaders set about introducing and embedding the change in culture. The impact on the schools was positive, with clear examples of the change in culture. However, the vital role played by the head and the SLT in bringing about a change in culture raises the question of whether such a change could survive the departure from the school of senior leaders who are personally committed to nurture.

Schools in Northern Ireland (NI) have become increasingly diverse with the numbers of newly arrived migrant pupils more than doubling over the past decade. While studies have shown an increasingly high prevalence of mental health difficulties among young people in NI generally, there is a paucity of research with at risk groups, including members of ethnic minority communities. This paper draws on data from a study commissioned by The Education Authority (NI) that investigated the mental health needs of newcomer pupils in schools in NI according to newcomer pupils themselves, as well as school staff and youth workers who support them, and to make recommendations for future development. Participant views and lived experiences were explored through questionnaires, online surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Results suggest that, while many newcomer pupils have adapted well and display average levels of emotional well-being, many have experienced a range of adversities that may negatively impact mental health. Recommendations are made that relate to the emergent themes: to consider pre-existing stress and trauma (especially among refugees); respect socio-cultural differences and perspectives; foster relationships and collaboration; and empower and support schools.

The facilitation of children's emotional intelligence (EI) through social and emotional learning (SEL) and wider pastoral support schemes is common practice in schools. Although the benefits of enhanced EI have been widely reported, little is known about its 'dark side': emotional manipulation, or how this may manifest in school settings. Focus group and individual interview data gathered from staff members working across case study schools located in a town in the North West of England inform the points raised in this paper. The article explores the extent to which emotional manipulation takes place in the strategies and forms of support utilised by schools to enhance children's social, emotional and behavioural skills. The ramifications of emotionally manipulative behaviours are discussed and recommendations for future directives are made.

Low-level classroom disruption (LLCD) is characterised by pupils swinging on chairs, whispering or fidgeting in class. This paper provides initial data on the development and validation of the teacher-rated Low-Level Classroom Disruption Scale (LLCD-S), with two samples of primary school pupils. Exploratory factor analysis in Study 1 (N= 120) revealed one factor accounting for 61% of the variance; supported by confirmatory factor analysis in Study 2 (N= 274), with one factor accounting for 63% of the variance. Both studies reported high Cronbach's alpha values of.82 and.93 respectively. The evidence supports LLCD being a unidimensional construct, measured by the eight item LLCD-S. Weak convergence validity was found between the LLCD-S and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's (SDQ) externalising behaviours: conduct problems and hyperactivity. This preliminary evidence indicates that LLCD-S is a valid and reliable measure of low-level classroom disruption. Further research is needed to test the utility of the LLCD-S across different levels of education, cultures and as a pupil-reported measure.

This paper explores issues around stigmatisation and labelling as they pertain to pupils with SEBD. The paper draws upon an evaluative case study, conducted in two Scottish local authorities, of the implementation of support groups, and examines how the approach was experienced by pupils who participated within the intervention, drawing from a range of accounts. The study was implemented in upper primary (aged 10-12) and lower secondary (aged 12-14). It is principally qualitative and draws upon data generated from open questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Pupil responses to intervention were largely positive, but there was evidence that a minority of children had experienced the intervention as stigmatising. Variables relating to the establishment of trusting and respectful relationships within the group, partnerships with parents, professional development for staff and the adoption of a whole-school approach emerged as key variables in determining how pupils experienced the intervention.

"Growing a nurturing classroom" is an awareness training programme presented by educational psychologists in Leicestershire for professionals working in primary schools with the aim of promoting an optimal environment for learning and emotional well-being. The training helps primary school staff to take a holistic approach to education; see emotional well-being and resilience as central to the development, learning and happiness of children; consider the impact of promoting secure relationships within a positive learning environment; and reflect on the value of an emotionally supportive school for children and adults. The environment is characterised by a clear sense of consistency, a common approach of shared values and a sense of belonging and connectedness. The key themes promoted throughout the training are "secure relationships" and "attachment", "resilience" and the importance of "positive learning environments" in enhancing "well-being and" children's "readiness to learn". Analysis of evaluation data directly following the training identified how well the course content met the overall aims, theoretical components, case discussion, practical resources, sharing practice, planning for the future and assessment tools. The three-month follow-up questionnaire reported the maximum benefit perceived by school staff as improvements in the interactions between themselves and children. This paper provides an overview of a training course that was delivered to 73 schools in Leicestershire. It is the first of three with subsequent papers addressing in-house training and the national delivery of training to 26 educational psychology services. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

In this paper, the authors highlight features of the social and cultural context which surrounds services to children. Emphasis is given to the point that those who work with children exist within the same cultural landscape occupied by the children, parents and other parents. Whilst this landscape is diverse, it contains certain dominant, historically rooted features which influence government policy and professional practice in subtle ways, as well as influencing the values and orientations of individuals. It is argued that there is a need for greater awareness of these influences, as well as a strong commitment among policymakers and professionals to help limit the negative effects that certain cultural trends have on the social context in which young people develop.

This paper assesses the reliability and validity of the teacher-completed Pupil Behaviour Questionnaire (PBQ), by comparing it to the already extensively validated teacher-completed Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Participants included 2074 primary school children participating in a universal school-based trial and 41 vulnerable children who were taking part in a study exploring the impact of exclusion from school. Exploratory factor analysis results (first factor accounts for 80.8% of the variation in the items) and the high Cronbach's alpha value of 0.85 indicate that the PBQ consists of one substantive factor/dimension. Strong correlations between the total PBQ score and the conduct sub-scale (Spearman's correlation coefficient (r[subscript s]) = 0.67) and total difficulties score (r[subscript s] = 0.59) of the SDQ indicate convergent validity. This study suggests that the PBQ is a reliable measure, and provides some evidence of validity. Further work is needed to test the PBQ in an older, more diverse populations and to measure sensitivity to change.

Reducing fixed term exclusions (FTE) in primary schools is a difficult proposition. This research discusses how a partnership of primary schools developed more inclusive systems to support students previously given FTEs for disciplinary purposes. Longitudinal data from interviews and documentary sources trace the development of an approach amongst primary schools with previously high levels of FTE. The process of developing a model of transferred inclusion (TI) within the partnership led to schools changing practices around behaviour management, thus developing more inclusive systems. The paper elaborates on partnership work around the TI project that opened up discussion and questioning of practice around behaviour, leading to schools thinking about their systemic practice. The benefits of TI, therefore, were a prompt for development, rather than just an intervention to reduce exclusions. Changes in practice supported through the TI process lead to claims that substantive change would not have happened without the TI project.

The Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) is an investigative process that examines the context of challenging behaviours in the classroom. Information gleaned from the FBA process is used to develop a behaviour intervention plan to address the challenging behaviour and teach a socially acceptable replacement behaviour. However, the FBA has remained almost exclusively used with students identified with disabilities, particularly those with emotional/behavioural disorders (EBD) as a last resort before removal from the general school campus. Fortunately, there is a growing awareness of the FBA as positive behaviour support practice in the general education classroom to assist non-disabled students and early intervention for students with or at-risk for EBD. In this paper, we discuss the FBA, its place as a positive behaviour practice, and its application in the general education classroom to assist students who are demonstrating challenging behaviours prior to considering a referral for special education assessment. (Contains 3 figures.)

This article presents one English local authority's educational psychology service's approach to supporting children and young people's psychological well-being. Evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic approaches adopted by one intervention (the Child Behaviour Intervention Initiative [CBII]) is presented. The statistical analysis indicates positive impact and suggests the interventions are highly effective. The local authority is a pathfinder for the Targeted Mental Health in School Project (a United Kingdom government funded initiative to support children with developing mental health difficulties). The interventions being run through this programme are outlined and early impact indicated. The paper uses these examples to demonstrate how educational psychology services can practically support children's mental health and psychological well-being outside the classroom. (Contains 5 notes and 5 tables.)

Elementary teachers often cite challenging student behaviours and classroom management as areas of concern and therefore priorities for professional development. In this paper, the authors discuss the findings from a two-year research project, Sociocultural Perspectives on Behaviour and Classroom Management (SPBCM). SPBCM examined the social and cultural context of challenging student behaviours in four model inner city schools in Toronto, Canada. The purpose of SPBCM was to gain a better understanding of elementary teachers' perceptions of challenging student behaviours and the strategies they use to address those behaviours. Fifty teachers in total participated in individual and group interviews. Results were interpreted using Ronald Heifetz's concept of technical versus adaptive problems of leadership. Extending this theory to the realm of classroom management, the authors aimed to gain a better understanding of whether or not the interventions described were premised on the notion of challenging behaviours as either technical or adaptive problems. According to Heifetz, experts can solve technical problems, whereas the solutions to adaptive problems reside in teachers themselves. Analysis of interview transcripts revealed that most challenging behaviours were adaptive in nature, as were teachers' strategies for intervening through building trusting relationships with students. In conclusion, the authors suggest that teachers and administrators who seek to address challenging student behaviours should consider professional development in which experts facilitate teachers' development of context-specific strategies for classroom management, rather than offer solutions. (Contains 2 tables.)

This article describes a pilot study where consultancy supervision was introduced into a primary school for pupils with SEBD in England. School staff engaged with supervision and evaluated their experience through a quantitative and qualitative methodology. The paper explores the nature of supervision, the qualities of the supervisory relationship and the areas of school staff lives to which supervision can be relevant. The project is set in context through reviewing current literature and professional guidelines on supervision. The positive results of the project are described and recommendations and conclusions drawn from the findings. (Contains 3 figures.)

This paper reports a pragmatic mixed methods pilot study of teacher perceptions regarding a school-based Dance Movement therapy (DMT) service for six children aged four to seven in a North of England primary school. No previous studies have systematically evaluated DMT in terms of the development of Emotional Literacy (EL), though theoretical support exists in the formation of a non-verbally mediated empathic, attuned therapeutic relationship, and there is limited evidence linking arts education with EL. Data were collected on teacher perceptions relating to teacher-identified goals, and on movement metaphors reported in therapist notes. Results suggest a link between metaphors identified and positive teacher-rated outcomes in the following areas relating to EL: self-esteem; emotional expression and regulation; and social function. Causal links cannot be identified with certainty due to the pragmatic uncontrolled design, but are inferred through qualitative teacher feedback. Recommendations for further research are made. (Contains 4 figures, 2 tables and 1 note.)

This paper is based upon detailed research over a two-year period into primary school teachers' attitudes and approaches to bullying. All the teaching staff in a single school contributed to the research and they were thoughtful and reflective in their engagement with the research. The project focuses on the key issue of how teachers define bullying and begins with a consideration of factors that might influence their definition before moving on to develop a framework of key concepts that inform definitions and the problems that emerge from that framework. Teachers' own understanding and the differing forms of definition that developed are discussed. What emerges is a picture of a shared vocabulary and a strong personal understanding about what is meant by 'bullying', but little consensus is evident. It leads to a conclusion that endorses the importance of shared understanding amongst the professionals within an institution, and those who work alongside them, that are often called upon to resolve bullying issues.

This paper analyses the first significant change to Special Educational Needs (SEN) legislation in England for over a decade, a change that promises new approaches to identification and assessment, increased parental choice and enhanced pupil outcomes. The paper aims to examine to what extent this new framework can live up to its claims in the field of emotional and behavioural difficulties. It analyses the policy context and some key details of this legislation by focussing on approaches such as person-centred planning, multi-professional collaborations and recent mental health initiatives in schools. It also explores what can be expected from the legislative requirements for collaboration between health, social care and education agencies to improve outcomes for children and young people. The paper concludes by addressing tensions between medical and social model assumptions by proposing a systemic approach to multi-agency working and an educationally oriented and integrated functional framework for identifying and assessing emotional and behavioural difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the US student population continues to become increasingly diverse, educators have encountered difficulties in distinguishing between cultural differences and genuine disability indicators. This concern is clearly evident in assisting students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate chronic challenging behaviours. Past practices (e.g. disciplinary office referrals, out-of-school suspensions, expulsion) have contributed to the likelihood of students from diverse backgrounds being misidentified as having an emotional or behavioural disorder. However, by tailoring the functional behavioural assessment (FBA), educators better differentiate cultural factors from disability characteristics and better understand the students’ needs. This paper will discuss the significance in meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, provide an overview of the FBA process and present considerations in creating a culturally attuned FBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on sociological assumptions that teachers, schools and schooling may play an important role in the recognition and psychopathologization of particular boys as ‘difficult, disordered and disturbed’. The data draw on ethnographic work combined with video recordings of everyday classroom practices in a special educational needs unit with boys diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Drawing on ethnomethodological work on members’ understanding of social categories (MCA) combined with the related methodology of ‘doing difference’, the focus is on the local social process through which boys’ unruly behaviors are made sense of and treated as the grounds for shifting categorization practices. It is found that both teachers and boys orient to the institutional categories Teacher and Student in teacher–student interactions for the ordering of the classroom . The boys’ conduct is in these instances far from pathological but is meaningful in the sense that it provides local resources to resist teacher authorithy and display agency. Overall, the analysis highlights the complexity of locally accomplished identity practices – in terms of how institutional-, gender- and age-appropriate conduct meshes with diagnostic criteria – in the social identification of boys diagnosed with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a pilot study where consultancy supervision was introduced into a primary school for pupils with SEBD in England. School staff engaged with supervision and evaluated their experience through a quantitative and qualitative methodology. The paper explores the nature of supervision, the qualities of the supervisory relationship and the areas of school staff lives to which supervision can be relevant. The project is set in context through reviewing current literature and professional guidelines on supervision. The positive results of the project are described and recommendations and conclusions drawn from the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bullying and victimisation may result from ineffective coping with interpersonal stressors. However, little is known about the preadolescents who are most susceptible to dysfunctional coping styles. Self-efficacy beliefs may be one source of individual differences in coping among those involved in bullying and victimisation. The purpose of the present research was to examine whether links between bullying/victimisation and coping were moderated by self-efficacy beliefs. Participants were 262 Greek preadolescents who completed self-report assessments of bullying/victimisation, coping, and self-efficacy. Results indicated that self-efficacy moderated the association between bullying/victimisation and coping, in that greater use of ineffective coping (i.e., resignation, passive avoidance) predicted bullying and victimisation among preadolescents with moderate and low levels of social and emotional self-efficacy, whereas greater use of adaptive coping (i.e., positive self-instructions, social support) was reported by those with higher self-efficacy beliefs. Practical implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial introduction to the September 2014 issue is presented, highlighting its central theme of special education in Nordic countries with a focus on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and citing contributions by Ann-Carita Evaldsson, Søren Langager, and Peder Haug.