Working in a mainstream school with a child with additional needs and challenging behaviours.
Working with a child who has additional needs and challenging behaviours in a mainstream school can be incredibly rewarding but also challenging. The child desperately wants to feel included and accepted amongst their peers and it’s part of your responsibilities as their support worker to help them achieve that goal. They are expected to cope with a full-size classroom of thirty children and the work will be of a higher level than if they were attending a Special Educational facility.
If you are going to support this child successfully it is imperative that you have received a good quality of training and attended at least one Challenging behaviour course. These bespoke training sessions are delivered by professional companies such as http://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/learning-disability-training/challenging-behaviour-training-breakaway-techniques and are the best way to learn how to help and encourage the child you are supporting effectively. You learn the importance of taking them out of the classroom for some quiet, reflection time and encouraging them to make positive choices for themselves, giving them the confidence and strategies to cope with their challenging behaviours.
Having great communication with the main teacher in the classroom is very important, keeping them informed of when and why you will be taking the child out for some reflection and quiet time. Discussing with them the progress the child is making on a regular basis and ensuring that with support from everyone in the class they reach their full potential.
