Positive Handling
Comprehensive one-day positive handling training to give your staff the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage challenging behaviour safely at your school.
Safe
Legal
Fully compliant with Department for Education positive handling guidance.
Practical
Confident
Positive Handling Full Day
Without Positive Handling training, staff face risks of injury, schools risk complaints and reputational harm, and pupils risk unsafe interventions.
Risk 1
Inconsistency
Without positive handling training, staff may react inconsistently or unsafely under pressure, increasing stress, fear and personal liability.
Risk 2
Relationships
Schools risk reputational damage, complaints, and inspection failures if they cannot demonstrate safe, compliant Positive Handling practice.
Risk 3
Confidence
Children—especially vulnerable pupils—may suffer avoidable harm or trauma when staff lack confidence in safe handling strategies.
Choose Positive Handling from Dynamis
Our one-day Positive Handling course blends evidence, practice, and policy alignment to give schools complete peace of mind.
Evidence
Based on brain-science, trauma-informed practice, and national positive handling guidance.
Skills
Practical de-escalation and safe physical intervention strategies.
Support
Resources for sustainment and consistent school-wide positive behaviour practice.
Assurance
Inspection-ready evidence of safe behaviour management systems and compliant training.
Course Outline & Goals
Develop the awareness, judgement, and practical skills needed to prevent, manage, and survive high-risk lone working situations
One Day Positive Handling for School Settings
Course Aim: To equip school staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills to manage challenging behavior and physical confrontation with children safely, legally, and ethically, using brain-based approaches to understand dysregulation.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, participants will:
Know:
- The legal frameworks that govern physical interventions with children, including relevant legislation and duty of care in school settings.
- The key principles of crisis prevention and de-escalation using the Kaplan-Wheeler model of behavior crisis.
- Risk factors and warning signs associated with child dysregulation in classrooms, corridors, and playground environments.
- Documentation requirements for incidents involving physical interventions in educational settings.
Understand:
- The ethical considerations when implementing physical interventions with children experiencing dysregulation.
- The importance of maintaining dignity and respect throughout all interactions, recognizing trauma responses.
- How trauma-informed, brain-based approaches influence intervention strategies for dysregulated children.
- The distinction between planned and emergency interventions in classroom and corridor situations.
Be able to do:
- Apply effective verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques based on the phases of the Kaplan-Wheeler model.
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills appropriate for school staff working with children.
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques specific to classroom and corridor environments.
- Conduct post-incident reviews and reflection to improve future practice and support children’s emotional regulation.
Course Duration: One day (6 hours)
Target Audience: School staff who may encounter challenging behavior requiring physical intervention as part of their role with dysregulated children.
Learning Methodologies:
This course utilizes a blended approach of theoretical discussion on brain-based behavior models, practical demonstrations, and supervised skills practice. Participants will engage in scenario-based learning with ample opportunity for hands-on practice in simulated classroom and corridor environments.
Tailoring and Relevance:
All training content is specifically tailored to the unique challenges and situations faced by school staff in their educational setting. Case studies and scenarios are customized to reflect real-world situations involving dysregulated children in classrooms, corridors, and other school environments.
Legal and Medical Review:
All physical techniques taught are medically reviewed, legally defensible, and aligned with current best practice for managing children’s dysregulation. Techniques prioritize safety and minimal restriction while maintaining effectiveness in school settings.
Trainer Qualifications:
Courses are delivered by experienced instructors with extensive practical background in managing challenging behavior and physical interventions with children in educational environments.
Resources Provided:
Participants receive comprehensive handouts, quick reference guides to the Kaplan-Wheeler model, and access to follow-up support. Digital resources on brain-based approaches to children’s behavior are available for refresher purposes.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Learning is assessed through observation of practical skills, knowledge checks on brain-based models, and scenario-based assessments in simulated classroom environments. Participant feedback informs continuous improvement of the course.
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning:
Schools are supported to implement regular refresher sessions and practice opportunities. Follow-up coaching is available to strengthen implementation of de-escalation techniques and appropriate interventions for dysregulated children in the school environment.
Half-Day Positive Handling: Supporting Children in Distress with Regulation-First Approaches
Course Aim
To equip school staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to effectively manage challenging behaviors in educational settings, using regulation-first approaches that prioritize dignity and respect while ensuring safety for all.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this blended learning course, participants will:
Know:
- The context and legal basis of Positive Handling in schools, including Human Rights Act considerations
- The Seven Phases of Crisis (Kaplan Wheeler) and the SCARF Model for understanding dysregulated behavior
- Brain-based approaches to understanding trauma, ACEs, and challenging behaviors in children
- Legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality when supporting children in distress
- Risk factors and warning signs when working with dysregulated children in classroom settings
Understand:
- The core principle that every child experiencing distress should be treated with dignity and respect
- How staff Duty of Care should influence decision-making when managing incidents in school environments
- The difference between emergency and planned interventions for dysregulated behavior
- The ethical considerations in avoiding coercion and applying regulation-first approaches
- When it may be appropriate or necessary to hold a child, and when it may NOT be appropriate
- How to minimize risks when physical interventions are used as a last resort
Be able to do:
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques with children experiencing distress
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting, escorting, and holds when necessary
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques in classroom environments
- Clearly articulate the rationale for different interventions using a regulation-first framework
- Apply good-practice guidance to common high-risk incidents in educational settings
Course Format
This intensive short-format course uses a blended flipped-classroom approach:
- Pre-course online learning (90 minutes): Participants complete foundational theory modules through our online learning management system (LMS), covering legal frameworks, theoretical models, and core principles of positive handling
- In-person training (3 hours): Intensive practical session focusing on scenario-driven training using the SCENA approach (research-informed and evidence-based), with hands-on practice of de-escalation techniques and physical skills
Target Audience
- Teaching staff in mainstream primary and secondary schools
- Staff in special educational needs settings
- Early years practitioners
- Learning support assistants
- School leadership teams
Training Methodologies
Our training combines multiple evidence-based approaches:
- Scenario-driven training using the SCENA approach
- Practical role-play of common school scenarios involving children with dysregulated behavior
- Interactive discussions and problem-solving around regulation-first strategies
- Physical skills practice in a supportive environment
- Video case studies and analysis of classroom situations
Tailoring and Relevance
This training is specifically designed for YOUR staff working with YOUR children who present with behaviors of concern. The course is customized based on a Training Needs Analysis to address your school’s unique environment, whether Early Years, Mainstream Primary, SEN contexts, Secondary Schools, or other educational settings.
Legal and Medical Review
Our training content is tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe. All physical intervention techniques are developed with expert input and would withstand scrutiny in legal proceedings.
Trainer Qualifications and Credibility
All Dynamis trainers have extensive experience in education settings and are certified in positive handling techniques. Our trainers maintain current knowledge of legal frameworks and best practices in supporting children with complex needs.
Resources Provided
Participants will receive:
- Comprehensive digital handbook with reference materials
- Access to our online learning portal for 12 months
- Quick reference guides for classroom implementation
- Templates for incident reporting and reflection
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
The effectiveness of this training will be measured through:
- Pre and post-course knowledge assessments
- Practical skills evaluations during the in-person session
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning (optional extra)
To ensure sustained implementation and skill retention:
- Monthly micro-learning refreshers delivered via email
- Optional quarterly virtual Q&A sessions with trainers
- Access to case study libraries and scenario discussion forums
- Guidance for team leaders on conducting mini-refresher sessions
- Follow-up surveys at 3 and 6 months post-training
- Analysis of incident reports and outcomes in your setting
Two-Day Positive Handling & Behaviour Support
Course Aim
To equip school staff with the knowledge, understanding, and practical skills needed to effectively support, care for, and educate children who present with behaviours of concern and may experience crisis when unable to cope.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this two-day course, participants will:
Know:
- The relevant legal frameworks including duty of care, necessity, and proportionality principles.
- The Kaplan-Wheeler model and the 7 phases of crisis behaviour.
- Warning signs and risk factors associated with escalating behaviour.
- Health and safety implications of managing challenging behaviour.
- The difference between planned and emergency interventions.
- Manual handling principles to reduce injury risk.
Understand:
- The principles of trauma-informed care and person-centered approaches.
- Behaviour as a form of communication.
- The importance of maintaining staff wellbeing and emotional equilibrium.
- The impact of survival hormones and perceptual narrowing during crisis situations.
- The ethical considerations in avoiding unnecessary restrictions.
- The rationale behind different intervention strategies based on behaviour phases.
Be able to do:
- Identify triggers and early warning signs of distress.
- Apply effective non-escalation and de-escalation techniques.
- Demonstrate safe physical intervention skills, including prompting and escorting.
- Execute personal safety and breakaway techniques.
- Respond appropriately to various challenging behaviours (e.g., kicking, head-butting, spitting).
- Safely disengage from physical interventions.
- Document incidents properly and participate in effective debriefing processes.
- Clearly articulate the rationale for interventions used.
Course Structure
Pre-Course Online Learning (90 minutes)
Prior to attending the in-person sessions, participants will complete online modules covering:
- Introduction to legal frameworks and duty of care
- The Kaplan-Wheeler model of crisis behaviour
- Health and safety considerations
- Principles of reasonable force
Day 1: Understanding and Prevention
Morning Session (3 hours)
- Welcome and introduction to core values: dignity and respect
- Trauma-informed approaches to behaviour support
- Understanding the 7 phases of crisis behaviour in detail
- Identifying triggers and early warning signs
- Practice: Observation and assessment of behaviour phases
Afternoon Session (3 hours)
- Proxemics – managing distance, position, and body language
- Communication strategies for de-escalation
- Practice: Verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques
- Scenario-based role play: Responding to escalating situations
- Day 1 review and reflection
Day 2: Intervention and Recovery
Morning Session (3 hours)
- Review of Day 1 learning
- Physical intervention principles and safety considerations
- Demonstration and practice: Safer approach and positioning
- Practice: Prompting and escorting techniques (front and back)
- Practice: Control principles including clothing grips, wrist holds, and straight arm holds
Afternoon Session (3 hours)
- Managing challenging situations: Responding to specific behaviours
- Team approaches to intervention
- Post-incident procedures: Recording, reporting, and debriefing
- Staff wellbeing and support strategies
- Final assessment and certification
Learning Methodologies
This training uses the SCENA approach – a scenario-driven, research-informed methodology that focuses on realistic situations school staff may encounter. The training includes:
- Interactive discussions and problem-solving
- Practical role-play of common school scenarios
- Physical skills practice in a supportive environment
- Coaching feedback from experienced trainers
Tailoring and Relevance
The training content is specifically designed and tailored to the roles and challenges faced by school staff working with children who present with behaviours of concern. Scenarios and examples will be adapted to reflect participants’ specific working environment and the needs of the children they support.
Legal and Medical Review
All physical intervention techniques taught are tactically effective, legally correct, and medically safe. The training content is regularly reviewed by legal and healthcare professionals to ensure it meets current standards and would withstand scrutiny in legal proceedings.
Trainer Qualifications
All trainers are experienced professionals with backgrounds in education, behaviour support, and crisis management. They hold relevant qualifications and have extensive practical experience in supporting children with challenging behaviours.
Resources Provided
Participants will receive:
- Comprehensive course handbook
- Access to online resources folder with templates, guidance documents, and instructional videos
- Policy development support
- Post-course telephone support for safety queries
Monitoring and Evaluation
Course effectiveness will be measured through:
- Pre and post-course knowledge assessments
- Practical skills demonstration and assessment
- Participant feedback and satisfaction surveys
- Follow-up support to evaluate implementation in the school environment
Reinforcement and Ongoing Learning
To ensure skills are maintained and developed:
- Access to refresher materials online
- Recommended 12-month refresher training
- Guidance for team practice sessions between formal training
- Support for developing internal champions to sustain good practice
Sustain & Enhance
A training day energises a team, then it fades. Sustain & Enhance keeps skills current with refresher sessions, toolbox talks and year-round support, so practice stays consistent after the course ends.
Organisation Development
Some changes need more than a course. Organisation Development aligns leadership, policy and practice across a school or trust, so the decisions staff make after an incident match what they were taught.
Other courses we run
Every course we teach for schools, with the setting and duration it suits.
- Crisis Intervention & Self-Harm one day
- Fostering & Parents one day
- Positive Handling formats overview
- SEND Training two days
- Engaging with Parents half day
- Train the Trainer five days
- Whole School Briefing 60-90 minutes
- Whole School Online 90 minutes online
Proven Impact
“The best Positive Handling training we’ve had — practical, professional, and immediately applicable in our classrooms.”
Headteacher, SEN School
Our Support
From first call to refresher training, we guide you with expertise, empathy and reliable, responsive service.
Your Path
Simple, clear steps
1
Enquire and assess needs
2
Book and train staff
3
Embed with CPD support
Full-day, blended or train-the-trainer: which format fits which setting?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs this training?
Is the course certified?
How long is the course?
Is it trauma-informed?
How do we book?
Starting from £99 per learner per day for most teams.
Face-to-face, in-house across the UK. Tell us your team size and we will price it properly.
Guides
Download our Positive Handling starter guide for schools.
Contact Us
Ready to explore Positive Handling training for your staff team? Let’s talk today.