SNA Webinar - Building positive, trusting relationships to support behaviour

Behaviour is a form of communication and students with special educational needs and various home circumstances may often display challenging behaviour as a way of letting us know their needs are not being met. While we are not able to control the intense emotions a child may be feeling, we are able to change how we respond. The way we respond to children is hugely important - if we power over them by raising our voices and punishing the behaviour they will feel shame, lack of trust and unsafe in their environment, which will likely lead to further displays of challenging behaviour.

By meeting the child at their level and aiming to understand why the behaviour is happening, we can show children that we are safe, trusting adults who they can rely on through difficult situations. When we support children in navigating their big emotions, we can help reframe their thinking so that they can come to us as a place of safety. This webinar will discuss a variety of strategies that can be easily implemented throughout the school day to build positive, trusting relationships with all students, but in particular the students in the class who may display challenging behaviour as they are often the ones who need the most love.

Bio of Presenter: Martha Ní Fhlatharta

Martha is an Irish school-based Occupational Therapist, working specifically in a specialist school in the UK for children with Developmental Language Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder and accompanying sensory processing, motor skill, visual perceptual and executive functioning needs. Her role mainly focuses on increasing independence in activities of daily living, using sensory strategies, adaptive equipment and assistive technology to support student participation within the classroom, home environment and within the community.