School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton
Beacon School Support
Are you a teacher, a SENCo or a school leader?Want research-backed strategies for supporting students who find it hard to manage their emotions or behaviour? Want practical ways of supporting pupils with special needs like autism, ADHD, FASD or attachment disorder? Want tried-and-tested classroom management strategies that will work with that ‘tricky class’?Then you’re in the right place.Welcome to the School Behaviour Secrets podcast where we’ll answer ALL these questions and so much more! Week after week, your hosts Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton share the secrets to behaviour success that every teacher and school leader should know, all based on their decades of experience supporting real teachers and real students in real classrooms.But that’s not all...We also interview thought leaders from the world of education so you can hear NEW insights that could hold the key to unlocking your students’ potential. Whether it’s managing the whole class, helping kids with behavioural SEN, or whole school strategy - we’ve got you covered.Are you in? Brilliant. Because this is YOUR CHANCE to get unstuck, hear from the experts, feel inspired and start seeing more positive behaviour in your classroom again. So hit that subscribe button... and let’s get started!
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 15, 2022 • 31min
Effective Support Strategies For Students With ADHD With Jeff Copper (Part 1).
Did you know that children with ADHD have a very reward driven brain - that drives them to seek out immediate pleasure ? That means if they're doing something that's boring, whatever the activity may be, it's physically uncomfortable for them.In this week's episode, ADHD expert and founder of DIG Coaching Practice Jeff Copper, reveals his insights into the difficulties and challenges that kids with ADHD have and how we can effectively support them in school.Important links:Visit Jeff's website here: Dig CoachingJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpGet our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/SEN-handbook.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
May 8, 2022 • 32min
4 Classroom Strategies That Help Eliminate Low-Level Disruption
Low-level disruption slows down teaching and learning, prevents students from focussing on their work and creates huge amounts of stress for teachers. It may be "low-level" in name, but it's "high-level" in impact.But what can we, as teachers, do about low-level disruption? In this episode, we look at 4 key classroom management strategies that help eliminate low-level disruption AND explain how to use them in your classroom - so you can create a positive learning environment where all your pupils can achieve their potential.Get our FREE classroom management scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-scoresheet.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
May 2, 2022 • 32min
How To Use ABA To Change Challenging Student Behaviour
Did you know there's an area of science focussed on helping people engage in positive behaviour change? It's called ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) and follows simple, tested principles for helping pupils achieve behaviour success.In today's episode, ABA and autism expert Sasha Long explains what ABA is, why finding the function of a pupil's behaviour is so important. AND how to replace negative classroom behaviours with positive ones (even with students who are resistant to change).Important links:Listen to Sasha's other podcasts here: The Autism Helper Podcast ArchivesVisit The Autism Helper website here: The Autism HelperJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Apr 24, 2022 • 33min
This Mindset Shift Will Make You (Instantly) Better At De-escalation
Want to know how to de-escalate a student outburst? To some extent, it will depend on the needs of the individual pupil - but there is one mindset shift you can make that will improve your de-escalation skills.In this episode, we reveal what the mindset shift is and how to apply it when de-escalating pupils experiencing an anger outburst (or meltdown). So you minimise your pupil's distress - and the damage done to classroom learning.Useful links:Get our FREE SEMH Framework: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/semh_framework.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Apr 3, 2022 • 30min
How To Solve The Problem Of Teacher Stress And Burn-out with Simon Bolger
SummaryHappiness is a teacher's best tool. But so many school teachers are now experiencing poor mental health due to the high workload, stress and over-scheduling that has become a part of our modern education system. How can we change this culture within our school system and protect teachers' wellbeing and happiness?In this podcast episode, we interview former head teacher Simon Bolger (That Wellbeing Guy) who is determined to start a wellbeing revolution and make as many schools as possible great places for children to learn.Important links:Visit Simon's website here: That Wellbeing GuyJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Mar 27, 2022 • 29min
4 Things Schools Get Wrong With Restorative Practice
Done right, restorative practice can be a brilliant way of teaching pupils conflict resolution skills and encouraging them to behave positively because they care about the impact of their actions on other people.But when restorative conversations aren't introduced effectively, it can result in pupils, staff and parents losing faith in the process. That's why, in this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we share 4 pitfalls to avoid if you're using (or about to use) restorative practice in schools.Join our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Mar 21, 2022 • 43min
Strategies for engaging pupils with behaviour and SEMH needs with Adele Bates
There's been a worrying increase in children struggling with their SEMH needs within schools. But - as teachers and educators - what's the best way of empathising and engaging with them. and forming mutually trusting relationships?In this podcast episode, we interview Adele Bates, SEMH behaviour specialist and author of 'Miss, I Don't Give a Sh*t! - engaging with Challenging Behaviour in Schools.' In the interview, Adele gives her top insights into dealing with challenging behaviour directly linked to SEMH needs in schools.Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/SEN-handbook.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpJoin our FREE Classroom Management and Student Behaviour FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/school.behaviourDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Mar 14, 2022 • 21min
Why don’t some kids learn from rewards and consequences
Teaching pupils with high levels of SEMH (or behavioural) needs? Sometimes, it can feel like they're stuck in a cycle of damaging behaviour - and just never learn from the systems of rewards and consequences we use to motivate them.Important links:Get our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/SEN-handbook.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpUnderstanding the reasons for this can be key to unlocking your students' success. So in today's episode, we explore the 4 key factors holding them back - and explain why some pupils don't (or can't) learn from rewards and consequences in school.School leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Mar 7, 2022 • 35min
How To Deliver School Intervention Programmes That Get Results With Daniel Sobel
School intervention groups for special needs pupils are expensive to run. and often don't get the impact schools are hoping for. So what are the essential ingredients that make up a intervention?In this week's episode, inclusion expert Daniel Sobel reveals the secrets to running successful intervention groups. He explains how to select the perfect intervention for your each pupil, how to plan and assess the impact of your group, and how to use hard and soft data to evidence that success.Important links:Read Daniel's book, Narrowing The Attainment GapRead Daniel's new book, The Inclusive ClassroomSee all of Daniel's books on AmazonThe International Forum Of Inclusion PractitionersGet our FREE SEN Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/SEN-handbook.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
Feb 28, 2022 • 31min
5 Hacks For Improving Whole Class Behaviour
Good classroom management is the bedrock of a purposeful classroom. But what are the practical strategies the best teachers use to create a productive learning environment?In today's episode, we share 5 hacks for improving whole class behaviour. That's 5 easy wins to get your class more focussed, engaged with their work and that encourage more positive behaviour in class. that you can start using today.Important links:Get our FREE classroom management scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-scoresheet.phpJoin our Inner Circle membership programme: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/inner_circle.phpDownload other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources.phpSchool leaders: Join us at the National SEMH Conference (October 2026)It's a whole day focused on the real SEMH, behaviour and inclusion pressures facing schools - and what leaders can do next. Plus, right now you can get Super Early Bird tickets at £250 - find out more and book your place here.
