Questions on Behaviour

What do I do when children don’t seem to follow the rules? How can I create a classroom environment that promotes positive behaviour? How do I handle conflicts between students in a way that promotes inclusion?

Every teacher faces moments of uncertainty when managing behaviour in the classroom and for Early Career Teachers (ECT) these challenges can feel especially daunting. Drawing on insights from a diverse panel of behaviour experts, this dip-in-and-out guide navigates these complexities with confidence, compassion and curiosity, offering practical strategies rooted in real-life classroom experiences.

Each chapter provides actionable advice on topics ranging from classroom organisation and conflict resolution to handling individual and group behaviours. The guide goes beyond surface-level solutions, encouraging you to consider the ‘why’ behind behaviour while demystifying key concepts like ‘warm/strict’ approaches and trauma-informed practices. Contributors bring a wealth of expertise and lived experiences and, while perspectives may sometimes challenge your thinking, they collectively shape a classroom where every child feels safe, valued and ready to learn. Case studies and reflections from the editor further invite you to deepen your understanding of the roots of behaviour and to strengthen your classroom practice.

Whether you’re learning to establish routines, build connections, or navigate moments of disruption, Questions on Behaviour equips you with the tools to create a calm and inclusive learning environment. It will support you at every step of your teaching journey and is essential reading for ECTs, as well as a valuable staffroom resource for all educational settings.

Sarah Johnson is the founder and Director of Phoenix Education Consultancy, which works alongside educational establishments to identify their strengths and address gaps to improve outcomes for children and young people. With over twenty years of senior leadership experience across mainstream, alternative provision, and hospital education settings, she brings a depth of practical, relational understanding to questions of behaviour that few can match.

Sarah is President of PRUsAP, the national body for Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision, and sits on Department for Education stakeholder groups for both AP and SEND. She is a member of the Special Education Consortium and a trustee of Bromley Y, a mental health charity supporting young people in South London. Her previous roles have included Director of Inclusion for a large primary school and Head of a Secondary Pupil Referral Unit. She has also taught internationally, including in Uganda, which has deepened her commitment to culturally responsive, inclusive practice.