Writing a behaviour management plan

The most effective whole school behaviour management plans are carefully thought out, based on all of the information available about the student and communicated well to other staff. Understandably schools need behaviour management plans to be written quickly. However, an afternoon spent gathering information about the child before writing the plan will help to build a tailor made plan relevant to the student’s needs.

It is helpful to meet with staff who know the student well. You may also decide to include the child’s parents and the child, depending on the child and the issues. The aim of the meeting is to gather all important information that is known about the child. You can then draw on this information to document an effective plan.

Key information required to tailor make a plan:

• Background. Has anything occurred that may be impacting on the child?
• Previous schools. What is known about previous academic results, social and emotional development and behaviour?
• Formal assessments. Has the child been assessed by a Speech Pathologist, Psychologist, Paediatrician, Occupation Therapist or other specialist? If yes,
– What were the recommendations of the report? Are they still valid?
– Are these being implemented? If no, how can we remedy this?
• Academic performance and school behaviour. What is happening currently? Does the student have poor social graces, lack knowledge of others’ personal space or lack understanding about private property?
• What works? What’s been successful now and in previous years? What strategies haven’t worked?
• Are there warning signs? Does the student frown or get annoyed or agitated when challenging behaviours are about to occur?
• Are there triggers? Does the student react to specific things – tests, comments by other students, noise, bright lights, that prompt challenging behaviour?
• Strengths. What are the child’s interests, strengths and passions?
• Key behaviours or issues to be addressed. List no more than five. One to three is best.

Once you’ve collected this information you’ll be ready to write the plan. Good luck.

See the Whole school behaviour management plan for a child with Asperger’s Syndrome  on our website as an example of a student behaviour management plan.