School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

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School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Beacon School Support

259 episodes

4 days ago

Some of the most damaging ideas about behaviour in schools don’t sound wrong. They sound kind. They sound scientific. They sound progressive. And that’s exactly why they stick. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, Simon Currigan unpacks four popular SEMH myths that are quietly making behaviour worse - not because people mean badly, but because good ideas have been overstretched, oversimplified, and misunderstood. You’ll explore: Why children do still make choices - even when emotions ...

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Some of the most damaging ideas about behaviour in schools don’t sound wrong. They sound kind. They sound scientific. They sound progressive. And that’s exactly why they stick. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, Simon Currigan unpacks four popular SEMH myths that are quietly making behaviour worse - not because people mean badly, but because good ideas have been overstretched, oversimplified, and misunderstood. You’ll explore: Why children do still make choices - even when emotions ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/259)

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

The 4 SEMH Myths That Are Making Behaviour In School Worse

Some of the most damaging ideas about behaviour in schools don’t sound wrong. They sound kind. They sound scientific. They sound progressive. And that’s exactly why they stick. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, Simon Currigan unpacks four popular SEMH myths that are quietly making behaviour worse - not because people mean badly, but because good ideas have been overstretched, oversimplified, and misunderstood. You’ll explore: Why children do still make choices - even when emotions ...

3 days ago

26 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

The January Reset: How To Use The Fresh Start Effect To Transform Classroom Behaviour

The first week of January isn’t just “back to school” - it’s one of the most effective behaviour intervention points of the entire year. In this episode, we explore how to harness the psychology of the Fresh Start Effect to reset classroom routines, rebuild relationships and help pupils begin the new term with confidence rather than shame. You’ll discover: • Why January works better than September for behaviour resets • How to create whole-class “New Year resolutions” that shift identity, not...

3 weeks ago

23 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

RSD and ADHD: The Hidden Trigger Behind Sudden Classroom Meltdowns

When a pupil goes from “fine” to “furious” because you asked them to correct one sentence, it’s easy to think they’re overreacting. But for many children with ADHD, even small corrections can feel like rejection - triggering intense emotional pain known as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn what RSD actually is, why it’s so strongly linked with ADHD, and how it shows up in the classroom through explosive moments, sudden shutdowns, pe...

1 month ago

20 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

From Festive Chaos To Calm Classrooms - Helping Pupils Cope With Christmas

Christmas is exciting… but in schools, it can also send behaviour spiralling. Between nativity rehearsals, parties, Christmas jumper day, and all the glitter-induced chaos, many pupils tip from festive fun to full-on overwhelm faster than you can say “silent night.” In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why December is such a challenging month for regulation, the hidden SEMH pressures pupils face and the simple changes that help children stay settled so they can actually e...

1 month ago

20 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

When Rewards Stop Working: How To Build Behaviour That Lasts

Ever had that moment where your reward system just… stops working? The stickers lose their sparkle, the house points barely register, and suddenly every child in your class is asking, “What do I get if I follow the rules?” It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting, and it leaves you wondering what on earth to try next. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we unpack why reward systems lose power over time – and what the science of motivation says we should be doing instead. We’ll explore the h...

1 month ago

18 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Escape Behaviour Firefighting with the PAIN Framework

When pupils show persistent, emotionally escalated behaviour, it’s easy to focus on the surface - the shouting, the refusal, the walking out - and miss the real cause. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the PAIN framework (Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, Social, Prosocial, and Transition needs) to help your pupils make progress with their SEMH needs. You’ll follow the story of Liam, an 11-year-old pupil whose behaviour seemed oppositional - until the PAIN lens revealed hidden wha...

1 month ago

21 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Turn Chatty Classes Into Focused Learning With The T3 Method

Got a class that just won’t stop talking? The kind where the chatter keeps creeping back in, no matter how many times you settle them? We feel your pain! In this episode, we explain why the problem isn’t talk itself, but unstructured talk - and how to turn your class’s social energy and exuberance into focus, rather than frustration. You’ll discover the T3 Method: a simple way of structuring your lesson, so pupils get the connection and verbal processing time they need, while keeping your les...

1 month ago

17 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): How to Support Pupils And Avoid Power Struggles

Ever worked with a pupil who argues about everything — even the things they secretly agree with? In this episode, we unpack Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) — what it is, what it isn’t, and why traditional approaches like confrontation or “tougher boundaries” often backfire. You’ll discover: The common myths that cause teachers to misread ODD behaviourThe key differences between ODD and PDA (and why that distinction matters)How ADHD and ODD overlap, and what that means for your classroom...

2 months ago

25 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

How to protect your emotional wellbeing in 5 minutes a day or less

Ever get to Friday and feel like your emotional battery’s is fried? You’re not alone. Working in education — especially when supporting pupils with SEMH needs — means carrying other people’s emotions all day long. By the end of the week, you’re not just tired, you’re emotionally done. In this shorter half-term quickfire episode, we dive into the emotional side of teaching — and how to protect your emotional wellbeing in just five minutes a day. You’ll learn simple, practical steps to help yo...

2 months ago

11 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Connection Before Correction: 3 Ways To Make It Work In Your Classroom

“Connection before correction” has become a bit of a buzz phrase in education — but what does it actually mean in a real classroom? How do you do it in the middle of a behaviour incident, when stress levels are high and pupils seem least open to connection? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, Simon Currigan unpacks the science and the practice behind this powerful idea. Drawing on the work of psychologists Dan Hughes and Kim Golding, as well as what we know about the autonomic nervou...

2 months ago

18 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Why Isolation Rooms Don’t Work (And What Schools Should Be Doing Instead)

Summary Do isolation rooms really work? And if they do… why do we see the same pupils sitting in them day after day? In this episode, we dig into why – for many pupils - isolation rooms don’t change behaviour - and what schools can do instead to support the students who repeatedly end up there. You’ll discover: Why isolation can make behaviour worse (not better)What’s really driving repeat incidents (and how to spot it using the PAIN framework)How to shift from “respite" to “repair" using t...

2 months ago

24 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

The Truth About Consistency: Why It’s Hard and How to Nail It

Consistency across classrooms isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s the foundation of your school culture. When pupils see one teacher give a warning, another skip straight to sanctions, and a third ignore the same behaviour completely, the message is clear: the rules don’t really matter. For children with SEMH needs, that unpredictability can even fuel anxiety, dysregulation, and mistrust. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we dig into why consistency is so hard to achieve in schools a...

3 months ago

26 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Ofsted’s 2025 Shake-Up: 5 Questions Every School Leader Should Be Asking About Behaviour and SEMH

From November 2025, inclusion, behaviour, attendance, and wellbeing are set to take centre stage during Ofsted inspections. But what does this mean for schools in practice – especially when it comes to supporting SEMH? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we unpack the key changes in the new framework and answer the questions school leaders and teachers are already asking. Will Ofsted finally “get” SEMH? How will inspectors judge behaviour when it looks different for pupil...

3 months ago

21 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

ADHD in Girls: Why It’s Missed and What Teachers Can Do

When we think of ADHD, most people picture the stereotype: a restless boy bouncing off the walls, blurting out answers, unable to sit still. But here’s the problem - that picture is incomplete. And because of it, thousands of girls with ADHD are being missed, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we share why ADHD often looks different in girls, how history and diagnostic tools built on boys’ behaviours still shape who gets recognised today, ...

3 months ago

17 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Why De-escalation Isn’t Enough (And What To Do Instead)

Ever tried every de-escalation strategy in the book—calm voice, supportive stance, soothing words—only to watch a student keep spiralling? The problem isn’t you. The problem is that de-escalation on its own isn’t enough. In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we reveal why de-escalation so often fails in the heat of the moment, and introduce a new way of thinking about pupil behaviour: the PAINs framework (Primary Areas of Internal Need). Discover the five hidden stressors t...

3 months ago

20 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

The Myth of 1:1 Support: Why 1:1 Support Isn’t Always the Answer for SEMH Success in Schools

Are one-to-one teaching assistants really the best way to support students with SEMH needs?In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore the myth of 1:1 support and its unintended consequences for schools and students.Discover why this topic resonates with teachers and SENCOs working to support pupils with a high level of need and how rethinking your approach could empower independence and resilience in a more sustainable way.Important links:CHECK OUT BEHAVIOUR 360 today if you want...

1 year ago

23 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Is Bullying A Form Of Trauma? Insights From Kidscape's New Research (With Paula Timms & Nathalie Noret)

Should bullying be viewed as trauma? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we speak with guests Paula Timms and Nathalie Noret from Kidscape about groundbreaking research on the lasting impact caused by bullying.Discover how trauma-informed practices can transform how schools support students, reduce harm, and challenge misconceptions about bullying. Tune in for practical strategies every teacher, school leader, and parent needs to know.Important links:Explore Kidscape’s resources and ...

1 year ago

39 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Relationships First: Rethinking Behaviour Policies in Schools (With Stephen Steinhaus)

Are you struggling with behaviour in your school or feeling a disconnect between staff and students? Then this episode is for you!Join us as we sit down with guest Stephen Steinhaus to unpack how relational behaviour policies, with a focus on relationships – not just rules - can raise standards, improve behaviour, and transform teaching in your school.Important links:Get our FREE Classroom Management Scoresheet HERE!Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-...

1 year ago

43 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

SEND At Breaking Point: Educational Psychologists Sound The Alarm On Support In Schools (With Dr. Gavin Morgan)

Educational psychologists play a vital role in supporting students’ special educational needs and mental health. Yet, a recent British Psychological Society report reveals that many EPs feel the SEND system is broken and unable to meet students' needs.Join this week’s School Behaviour Secrets as we join Dr. Gavin Morgan to discuss how funding cuts, high caseloads, and a shortage of educational psychologists are impacting our vulnerable students, and what needs to be done to ensure every child...

1 year ago

34 minutes

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Unseen Struggles: The Surprising Link Between Pain And Neurodivergence (With Jane Green)

What if neurodivergent students' behaviours were actually signals of physical pain?In this thought-provoking episode, Jane Green, MBE, a passionate advocate for neurodivergent individuals, explains the surprising connection between physical pain and neurodivergence in young people.Jane explains how physical symptoms, like fatigue and chronic pain, can impact classroom behaviour, performance and attendance, and urges educators to consider these unseen factors when supporting neurodivergent stu...

1 year ago

34 minutes