A School Without Sanctions
- 192 pages
- 7 hours of reading
This book presents an innovative approach to behaviour management in schools, emphasizing compassion and behaviour modification over punishment. Authors Steven Baker and Mick Simpson share insights from their award-winning methods, explaining the roots of challenging behaviour and offering a toolbox of non-confrontational strategies beneficial to the entire school community. Their transformative journey began when they aimed to change their school's behaviour management, leading to the development of a sanction-free approach in a special school for boys with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. Contrary to fears of chaos, the initiative resulted in improved lessons and thriving student-staff relationships, earning the school an outstanding rating and remarkable student outcomes. Drawing from their experiences in pupil referral units and young offender institutions, Steven and Mick delve into managing behaviour without zero tolerance, addressing topics such as exclusions, trauma, motivation, and engagement. Grounded in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, this work aims to revolutionize perceptions of behaviour management, enhance student mental health and academic success, and safeguard teacher wellbeing.