Behaviour Support
If a child or young person is having extreme and ongoing behaviour challenges, your local Behaviour Support team can help.
| Level of compliance | Main audience | Other |
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Inform
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Schools and early learning services can choose to engage with Behaviour Support services, to assist them in managing challenging student behaviour.
- Who to contact
- Support to manage challenging behaviour
- How Behaviour Support works
- Behaviour Support options
- Other behaviour supports
- Further information
Who to contact
| For: | Contact: |
| Early years |
Early intervention services can provide support for families and early childhood educators who are concerned about the behaviours of younger children until they start school. Support can be requested by contacting your local Ministry office. |
| School aged |
The Behaviour Support service is for students in Years 1-10 who behave in a way that:
Support can be requested by contacting your local Ministry office. |
Support to manage challenging behaviour
Where possible, schools manage challenging behaviour by preventing dangerous situations developing or using de-escalation techniques to calm things down.
Download the updated (September 2017) Guidelines for Registered Schools in New Zealand on the Use of Physical Restraint.
These include strategies for preventative and de-escalation techniques. Time Out, for example, is still an acceptable method of de-escalation, whereas seclusion is not.
How Behaviour Support works
The Te Tūāpapa o He Pikorua framework is a dynamic and responsive model of supports that guides focused responses with clusters, schools, kura and early learning services. This approach is deliberate about embedding learning supports that are more proactive and collaborative into day-to-day teaching and learning.
A lead practitioner will work with staff, ākonga, whānau, and specialists such as psychologists, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), speech language therapists and kaitakawaenga to come to a shared understanding and co-design tailored support together. The lead practitioner will support the process and facilitate the engagement and collaboration of all significantly involved.
As part of Te Tūāpapa o He Pikorua, professional learning and development can also be provided to support your school or early learning service.
Behaviour Support options
| Option |
About |
| Training workshop for behaviour management |
The Understanding Behaviour, Responding Safely (UBRS) workshop is delivered in modules for whole-school staff groups focusing on prevention and de-escalation strategies. It's delivered by trained staff who are experienced in behaviour management and who will also provide on-going support. Request this from your local Ministry office. |
| Other training |
Some of the students with the most challenging behaviours will have specific physical intervention and restraint techniques in their individual student plans. Where the Ministry is part of the team supporting such a student specific training for staff in using those techniques is available. |
| For an individual child | The Behaviour Crisis Response Service is an extension of the behaviour support available from your local Learning Support team. It is designed to provide schools with immediate, skilled support in emergency behaviour situations around an individual child. This service complements the Interim Response Fund. |
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Funding for a short term response |
The Interim Response Fund can be used to provide additional resources to schools when a student’s challenging behaviour reaches a crisis point. This fund is available to keep students engaged in learning following a significantly challenging behavioural event. It gives funding for a short term response while a more comprehensive intervention plan is developed. |
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Traumatic Incident Teams |
Traumatic Incident Teams deal with supporting schools and early learning services following a crisis or emergency, whether caused by people, or by natural disasters. Traumatic Incidents are those that impact on the functioning and wellbeing of those involved with the school and its systems - Dealing with an emergency or traumatic incident. |
| Students needing more intensive support | A small number of children and young people who have highly complex and challenging behavioural, social, and/or learning needs will need extra help and support through the Ministry’s Te Kahu Tōī Intensive Wraparound Service (IWS). |
Other behaviour supports
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) supports schools to promote positive behaviour and create inclusive learning environments that foster well-being and achievement for all children and young people. There are a number of programmes available to improve the behaviour and wellbeing of children and young people.
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