Completed
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MBS Success Project: Sharing understanding of children's communication or emotionally successful schooling.
This project explored how established methods of working at The Mulberry Bush School could be transferred to mainstream primary schools, to improve their management of challenging behaviour.
Method
Phase one: based on action research, the team encouraged teachers to develop a shared understanding of the causes of emotional, social and behavioural difficulties by facilitating reflective staff groups, observing children, running practice clinics and providing staff training.
Phase two: the team collected data on pupil progress, received feedback through formal and informal means, and gathered information via qualitative and quantitative questionnaires.
Key findings
- The core values of the Mulberry Bush were transferable to mainstream schools, and the work adapted without compromising the underlying principles.
- Staff teams need to be well led and managed by the head and school leadership team.
- Supporting the development of understanding behaviour, working together and reflective practice was found to be extremely valued in mainstream settings.
- Tackling challenging behaviour needed the involvement of all staff, rather than just a few.
For a copy of the full report, please email Caryn Onions at conions@mulberrybush.org.uk.