Behaviour support blog in Cheshire – insights for parents, carers and schools

Life with children, work, and home responsibilities rarely goes to plan. After two weeks of school holidays, the house can feel completely upside down, and getting out the door looking half human can feel like a genuine achievement - even for a professional. When I first started my career, I was young, confident, and believed I had everything figured out. What I lacked then was the deep compassion that only truly developed when I became a mum. Motherhood taught me something n

SENCOs carry a huge amount: safeguarding, SEND, staff training, parent meetings, paperwork - and often, the most complex behaviour in the school. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can help, but it’s often misunderstood as “being nice” or “reward charts”. In reality, PBS is a structured, evidence-based way to understand behaviour and support pupils and staff. Here are five key ideas about PBS that can make a real difference in your setting. 1. Behaviour is communication, not “g

Talking to school about your child’s behaviour can feel daunting. You might worry about being judged, not being believed, or being seen as “that parent”. As a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and UKBA(cert) behaviour analyst, I sit in a lot of these meetings with families and schools. When the conversation is handled well, it can be a turning point for everyone. This guide is here to help you feel more prepared, more confident, and more supported. Before the meeting:

When a child’s behaviour feels big, confusing or even scary, it’s natural to ask: “Why are they doing this?” “Is it my fault?” “Will it always be like this?” In behaviour analysis, we start from a very different place: Behaviour is communication. Your child is not “being difficult” for the sake of it. They are trying to get a need met, or to cope with something that feels hard. When we understand the function of a behaviour, we can support the child in a kinder, more effectiv

Caring for a child with additional needs can be beautiful, meaningful and full of love. It can also be exhausting, lonely and relentless. Many parents and carers tell me they feel: “On duty” 24/7 Guilty for feeling tired or frustrated Afraid to say how bad it really feels in case they’re judged As a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and UKBA(cert) behaviour analyst, I work with families who are doing their absolute best in very tough circumstances. Carer burnout is rea