How to co-regulate our pupils in the classroom - SNA Webinar

Children with special educational needs and who display challenging behaviour require adult support to help regulate their emotions before they learn to do this independently. Challenging behaviour often presents itself when a child is outside of their window of tolerance; they are unable to control their feelings or emotions and this leads to an emotional outburst, use of violence, inappropriate language, throwing furniture, disrupting others or leaving the classroom. When a child cannot regulate their emotions, it impacts their whole day including their ability to access learning, maintain peer relationships and participate in extra-curricular activities.

This webinar will introduce how to identify the different states of regulation and look at practical strategies which can support the child in returning to their "just-right" state for learning. We will look at using two distinct programmes - The Zones of Regulation and The Alert Programme, to increase a child's awareness of their own feelings, emotions and state of alertness. SNAs will be supported in responding to children who are dysregulated in a calm, empathetic and caring way to coach children through their difficult feelings to help them regulate their nervous system.

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.