The Team Teach Approach
Working together to safeguard children and staff
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS
Here at Ysgol Penmaes we aim to provide a learning environment that is free from fear and safe from harm. We have policies and procedures followed by all our staff to try and secure the best learning and development for our children.
We are an inclusive school that tries to meet the needs of all our children regardless of their level of support need and therefore, from time to time, some pupils may present with challenging behaviour. Our health and safety commitment to pupils and staff means that we will carry out a risk assessment to foresee and reduce the risks presented occasionally by their behaviour.
This may also mean that there are times when their behaviour requires staff physical support to ensure the pupils’ own safety, the safety of other pupils and staff, or to ensure that property is not seriously damaged. This can require the use of physical interventions.
‘Team Teach’ is the approach adopted by us at Ysgol Penmaes to manage challenging and aggressive behaviour. Many of our teaching and non-teaching staff have been trained in the use of this approach and they receive regular refresher training from the LA instructors who are also members of staff at school. The Headteacher keeps a list of those staff authorised to use Team Teach.
The basic philosophy of the approach is as follows:
95% or more of all incidents should be managed without recourse to physical intervention.
It is a flexible framework of responses stressing a holistic approach.
De-escalation of situations is a priority (e.g. using communication skills, humour, distraction etc).
Gradual and graded positive handling techniques are based on providing the maximum amount of care, control and therapeutic support for the shortest possible time necessary to ensure the safety of all concerned.
All incidents of positive handling are reported, recorded, monitored and evaluated. Parents and the LA will be informed of any that involve a child being held with more restrictive holds.
Both the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Department of Health (DOH) and the Welsh Government issue clear guidelines for the use of physical intervention and the use of reasonable force. The school has copies of these guidelines which are available to you upon request.
If you have any questions concerning the use of Physical Interventions or the Team Teach Approach please do not hesitate to contact the school. You may also wish to seek advice from the LA’s Behaviour Support Manager - Judith Walken at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells
More information regarding the Team-Teach Approach can be found via the internet by visiting www.team-teach.co.uk