Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Pinches and bruises

5 replies

Jeneva1 · 13/09/2024 07:06

I am a teacher of a reception class. I love my job and work in a deprived area. I am used to parents and children who do not respect authority. I am currently teaching a boy, who is 1 of 4 boys in the household. His older brother was permanently excluded from school in year 1! I now have the younger brother. I am the most bitten, pinched and kicked than I've ever been. I have tiny fingerprint bruises all over.
I don't want to let him down. I know he is a bright boy. Speaking to SLT is just moaning unless I want them to action something against him and I'm not sure I want that. I would like to try and help him break away from what he has seen in his young life.
What are peoples thoughts?

OP posts:
applelovers · 13/09/2024 07:15

This reply has been deleted

This was the work of a previously banned poster.

Froniga · 13/09/2024 08:20

Jeneva1 · 13/09/2024 07:06

I am a teacher of a reception class. I love my job and work in a deprived area. I am used to parents and children who do not respect authority. I am currently teaching a boy, who is 1 of 4 boys in the household. His older brother was permanently excluded from school in year 1! I now have the younger brother. I am the most bitten, pinched and kicked than I've ever been. I have tiny fingerprint bruises all over.
I don't want to let him down. I know he is a bright boy. Speaking to SLT is just moaning unless I want them to action something against him and I'm not sure I want that. I would like to try and help him break away from what he has seen in his young life.
What are peoples thoughts?

Hi Jeneva1
How old is this child ? My approach would depend on his age. If he is quite young I would hope that he would be responsive to a gentle chat. But you may have tried this already.
When does this happen and where are the bruises, pinch marks ? What are you doing at the time when this child does this to you and what do you say to him at the time ?
Its unacceptable behaviour - we all know that !
BUT - why does he do it and how do you stop it ?
I think I would look at the child eye to eye and tell him “that hurts me.”
“ I don’t like you hurting me, Can you tell me why you do that”. Of course you may already have done this.
But you really can’t let it continue. You need to find a way to stop it.
I hope you can help this child. Does he have pinch marks/bruises on his body?

Jeneva1 · 13/09/2024 08:56

He is 4 and does not want to engage in 'normal' school activities. A lot don't at first but my arms and legs are dreadful. It is frustration and because he wants to, in equal measure. I am a Stern but kind and get good results from my approach but this little one is beating me, I'm afraid...physically and mentally

OP posts:
SnowdaySewday · 14/09/2024 16:04

You need to record all of these incidents. It is more work, but If the school is to get extra support for this child, in a cash-strapped system, they need the evidence to present to show the severity of the situation. Ask the Senco for a format to use as tables such as ABC charts are often easier for others to read than narrative accounts.

Log any safeguarding concerns.

Ask the Senco to observe him in class or to teach the class whilst you observe. The latter can be enlightening as you may see incidents as they are starting to develop before the violent behaviour occurs and how he reacts to interventions. Check with Senco what referrals are being or can be made.

From your observations, look for patterns and triggers, e.g. Is it worse at certain times and is there a reason like he is hungry or someone else has stopped him doing something or is it better after he’s had a calming activity or done something physical?

Work with the Senco, and the family if they are compliant, to set targets and agree the strategies that are most likely to reduce the behaviours. There are clearly some unmet needs. These may be social, e.g. what is going on at home, and/ or physical or learning, e.g. if he has a hearing loss or receptive language issue, he may not understand what you want him to do, he may not have the social or language skills to get what he wants by asking appropriately.

If a situation escalates, you need to involve SLT every time. (Once he’s pinched the headteacher, you may find things start moving forward a bit quicker).

Before any of this, if the other children are unsafe then you need to decide what steps can be taken from Monday to change this. Again, record what you’ve done, either it worked, which is great, or it didn’t and adds to the evidence for the Headteacher and Local Authority of what you’ve tried.

Avocadono · 15/09/2024 07:48

Great advice above. You need to make sure the SENCO and SLT are aware of the situation and the frequency of incidents.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread