Episode 14: Behaviour management

In this episode we discuss the importance of consistency of approach when managing behaviour. We also cover behaviour management frameworks, and what you should and shouldn't do when dealing with serious incidents.

My guests are:

• Vaughan Couillault, President NZ Secondary Principals Assn, Papatoetoe High School
• Leanne Otene, President New Zealand Principals Federation, Manaia View School
• Gretchen Stone, education lawyer

This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education as part of Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals.

You can learn more about this topic by accessing Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki - The Beginning Pathway for Principals e-learning modules on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz

Show notes

Episode themes:

• Building a culture in your school that promotes good behaviour, including knowing the tamariki in your kura, and getting out in front of things before they happen.
• Behaviour management plans and their importance.
• Importance of consistency of approach but not consistency of consequence.
• Making sure the act of applying a consequence for behaviour is done with the whānau and the child, not done to them.
• Dealing with a serious incident – during and after.
• Processes for statutory options like suspensions, stand downs and exclusions.
• Kiwi suspensions – where they came from, why you can’t use them.
• What can happen if a tumuaki doesn’t follow the correct process.
• Behaviour management frameworks.
• More substantial behaviour management supports that can be accessed through Ministry of Education.

Additional information

PB4L https://pb4l.tki.org.nz

Huakina Mai https://pb4l.tki.org.nz/Kaupapa-Maori-Huakina-Mai

Behaviour support (Ministry of Education)

https://www.education.govt.nz/school/student-support/special-education/behaviour-services-to-help-schools-and-students/behaviour-services-and-support/behaviour-support-information-for-teachers-and-schools/

Questions

00:54 [Leanne and Vaughan] When you first start hearing concerns about a student's behaviour, what do you do as tumuaki?

3:28 [Leanne and Vaughan] Most schools have a plan around behaviour management, is that one of the key things for a new tumuaki to get their head around?

7:01 [Leanne and Vaughan] What process should a tumuaki follow after a serious incident?

10:31 [Gretchen] The aim is to keep everyone in school as much as possible, but sometimes that becomes quite difficult. What’s the process for using stand downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions?

12:52 [Gretchen] In the legislation episode you mentioned the ‘Kiwi suspension’. Can you just remind us what that is and why you shouldn't do it?

14:33 [Gretchen] What could happen if a tumuaki doesn't follow proper process?

15:46 [Leanne and Vaughan] Tell me about available behaviour management programmes/frameworks. 

19:24 [All] Where can tumuaki go for guidance if they do have to do stand downs, suspensions, exclusions or expulsions?

23:58 [All] Anything else you want to add that we haven’t covered?