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17. The home's approach to behavioural support including
restraint.
Prior's Court School has a range of strategies to support young people in learning
to self-manage behaviour. All behaviour is seen as a form of communication and
is managed in a positive way, teaching young people to substitute challenging
behaviour with more appropriate behaviour and communication, and rewarding
good behaviour by praise and the use of positive motivators. We do not use
punitive methods to maintain behaviour.
Each young person has a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan which includes
proactive and reactive strategies to support them in learning to self-manage
behaviour and ensures a consistent approach is employed throughout the Waking
Day. It is reviewed regularly by the Positive Behaviour Support team, Home
Manager, Keyworker, Class Teacher, Therapists and other professionals within
Prior's Court School. Strategies are carefully considered by all staff concerned,
often in consultation with parents.
A key element in supporting behaviour is the use of the TEACCH system of
structured teaching with structure in the organisation of the day and the layout
of classroom and living spaces. Regular exercise and the use of areas of space
within Prior's Court School campus are also part of the strategies to reduce
anxieties and learn to self-calm.
Challenging behaviour is positively managed by teaching young people to
substitute more appropriate behaviour and rewarding good behaviour using
positive motivators and praise. We do not use punitive methods to maintain
behaviour. We do not use sanctions, however if there are concerns that a young
person's behaviour might be deemed a sufficient risk that they should not attend
an activity or outing, this is technically classed as a sanction and is recorded as
such. An alternative and equally enjoyable on-site activity will be offered. On
very rare occasions, it may be necessary to exclude a young person for a short
period of time to ensure the health and safety of all concerned. Our exclusion
policy is available on request.
Use of restraint
All the young people at Prior's Court are individuals with unique
personalities. They do however share certain common characteristics due
to their autism and may therefore experience considerable difficulties with
communication, social interaction and imagination which sometimes give rise to
frustration, confusion and distress. This in turn can give rise to some
inappropriate and occasionally challenging behaviour.
We use the Team Teach approach to positive behaviour support. This approach
provides us with planned, systematic and graded strategies that are effective,
safe and as least intrusive as possible. We believe that the Team Teach
approach helps our young people to learn to make choices and to begin to take
control of their behaviour. All young people at Prior's Court have a Positive
Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan which will list the proactive and reactive strategies
for behavioural support, as well as listing the most effective Team Teach