Anyone work in SEN and had experience of positive handling?

[Mustrum]

This term I have been assigned 1-1 to support a child in KS1 who has no diagnosed SEN but has extreme difficulty coping with the classroom environment. (Obviously I'm not going to give any more details about the child.)

A few days into the assignment I had to physically restrain the child. The whole episode lasted about an hour and other members of staff were involved. I was withdrawn from supporting the child while the situation was reassessed. This was not punitive. Next week I will be working with them again.

At first I felt that I could have handled the situation better, and avoided reaching the point were restraint became the only option. My colleagues are not of that opinion - at least, not to my face. They feel that, if I did make mistakes, they were reasonable mistakes given the circumstances.

Over the past week, however, I have come to the conclusion that, in fact, my actions were irrelevant. The child was going to behave that way whatever happened and whoever they were with. It was unavoidable, and I was just the lucky or unlucky person who was there at that moment. Everything I did was containment and damage-limitation.

What I'm struggling with is: is this an arrogant attitude? Am I swerving my responsibility?

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

Op why are you asking me to read the thread? I have read the thread. The school is unsafe for him. You should be saying this at the meeting.

[PenguinsandPandas]

With mine it did make a difference who he was with, something like 80 percent of problems occurred with teacher he had 5 percent of the time. Had weekly problems with y4 teacher, no problems year 5 or 6. So it can make a difference who they are with. Mine wouldn't go for a walk with some staff but would with others. But he would also do things to be with someone he was obsessed with. It does take everyone to be on the same page though and all working in the same way, times we've had staff all thinking they'll do it their way have been the times of biggest problems and some just won't listen to ed psych. Biggest influence has been the Headteacher.

[PenguinsandPandas]

I would agree the school isn't currently suitable for him without changing the way it does things, that's not one person or child's fault, but it does need to be addressed.

[eightoutoftencats]

Firstly op huge sympathy, I've been in this situation many, many times due to the role I have. Don't beat yourself up!
Have you been properly trained in positive handling? It is essential that you and anybody else involved with the child are fully trained.
Secondly, you mentioned a safe space earlier, this sounds pretty much essential are the SMT working towards this? They should be?
Does the child have a positive handling care plan in place? He needs this to keep him and everybody else safe and to protect you from idiots like the one waffling on this thread at the moment
Final bit of advice, we're doing a massive amount of training around sensory needs and how these can be met within a school environment. There's a fair bit you can do to help the child cope. Please ask the SMT to book you on an extended course.
There may well be techniques that will help you to de escalate or handle the child more effectively.
Good luck to both you and the child.

[PenguinsandPandas]

If you are referring to me I went to Cambridge University so am not an idiot and I have a SEN child, its no wonder kids have issues with people like you "helping" them.

[eightoutoftencats]

No Penguins I hadn't seen your later posts I was referring to the goady outrage earlier in the thread.

[PenguinsandPandas]

Sorry assumed you were referring to me as I may have been waffling and it followed mine. [Grin]

I can understand a parent being upset at their child being restrained for so long but you do have to balance that with the need to make things safe for all. Also always say to the teachers its much easier for me at home as I only have 2 and they've got 30 and I have known DS all my life which is probably why we don't have problems at home. It's a difficult job though I think they need a new strategy or school here.