Ensuring behaviour policy closes the gap with Adam Hayes

Behaviour policies were never designed to be a log of misery. But for too many children, that’s exactly what they’ve become. In this episode, Dale is joined by Adam Hayes, Managing Director of Therapeutic Thinking, to discuss behaviour policies – and what it would actually take to make them work for every child. Adam brings extensive experience across social care and education, and a refreshingly honest perspective on why so many schools are still punishing children for having an unmet need rather than helping them address it. Together, they explore: – Why behaviour policies too often focus entirely on deficit – what children aren’t doing – rather than building a shared understanding of what we value and why. – What a behaviour curriculum actually is, and why it’s the missing piece that turns a policy from a document on a shelf into something that’s lived and breathed across a school. – Why children should be taught why a rule exists, not just expected to follow it. – Why every interaction is an intervention, and why children need to feel liked, loved, respected, or safe before behaviour change can happen. – The problem with rewarding 100% attendance. – Why we need bold children who ask why — and what we lose when we train that instinct out of them. “Experiences lead to feelings, and feelings create behaviours. If my intervention wouldn’t work in the staff room, why do I think it will work in the classroom?” Adam Hayes A candid, thought-provoking, and at times genuinely funny conversation that will make you look at behaviour very differently. Please note that the captions are auto-generated and may contain inaccuracies or mistakes. About Adam Hayes Adam has extensive experience in both Social Care and Education, both mainstream and SEND, having worked across the full range of ages and stages of education. He joined Therapeutic Thinking Ltd. from his role with Hertfordshire County Council. During his time with Hertfordshire Adam held a range of roles including Area Manager for Integrated Services for Learning, County Inclusion Lead, and Behaviour Advisor and Hertfordshire Therapeutic Thinking County Lead. Adam has a solution-focused approach which ensures that young people are at the centre of all that he does. This child centred work has been positively recognised by the stakeholders he works with. Adam has become the managing director of Therapeutic Thinking and as such is taking this positive, well considered approach forward and sharing it more widely with Local Authorities, Trusts and standalone schools. B Squared Website – https://www.bsquared.co.uk Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/o... Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://thesendcast.com/subscribe/ The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.