Collaboratively Managing the Behaviour of a Reception Class Pupil

Abstract

This article describes collaborative work to address the needs of a 5-year old pupil at risk of exclusion from his reception class. The intervention is presented as a typical piece of educational psychologist (EP) casework. It outlines a preventative approach to behaviour management influenced by the 'Circle of Friends' work outlined by Newton et al. (Newton, D., Taylor, G. & Wilson, D. (1996). Circles of friends: an inclusive approach to meting emotional and behavioural needs. Educational Psychology in Practice, 11 (4), 41-48) and the behaviour management approach developed by LaVinga & Donnellan (LaVigna, G.W. & Donnellan, A.M. (1986). Alternatives to Punishment: Solving Behaviour Problems with Non-aversive Strategies. New York: Irvington Publishers, Inc.). The authors conclude by highlighting the ways in which this routine intervention can be seen to address some of the current challenges to EPs at local and national levels.