Beacon School Support

We’re nearly there 🎉

The Inspiring Leadership Conference is just around the corner.

If you’re going…

Come and say hello - stand 22! 👋

Bring your questions.
Bring your challenges.

Because behaviour and SEMH right now isn’t simple.

But there are practical ways forward.

We’d love to talk it through with you.

https://sbee.link/y73m4kfejq

When the same pupils keep ending up out of class or melting down, it’s often a sign that staff are stuck firefighting - without a clear SEMH plan to guide what happens next.

The answer isn’t to ask "How can we respond better when things reach crisis point?", but to build a school-specific approach that helps adults understand what’s driving behaviour and respond more consistently. So those crises happen less and less often.

In June, we're running two FREE Headteacher SEMH Strategy Sessions for heads, deputies and MAT leaders who want staff to feel clearer, calmer and more confident with SEMH.

We’ll look at how to build a whole-school approach to SEMH, behaviour and inclusion that fits the direction of Ofsted’s 2025 framework - with practical next steps you can take back to school.

Book yor free slot today using the links below.

📍 Coventry - Tuesday 16th June: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/events/coventry-semh-needs
📍 Dudley - Wednesday 17th June: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/events/dudley-semh-needs

Thank you to Nasen for inviting me to run today’s session on understanding behaviour as communication.

We looked at how the PAIN framework can help adults move beyond “What behaviour am I seeing?” and ask, “What stress might be causing it?"

And how to turn that understanding into a Regulation Plan that provides practical, targeted support - so pupils have a better chance of staying regulated enough to learn.

Big thanks to Nasen and Caroline Sutton-Reid for inviting me and everyone who joined us 😀

If you believe pupil behaviour improves when your staff understand the needs behind it, the National SEMH Conference is perfect for you.

It’s practical, focused and good value - with keynotes, your choice of two workshops, lunch, refreshments and a full day to think properly about SEMH, behaviour and inclusion.

👉 And Super Early Bird tickets are currently £250 off the standard ticket price.

So if you’re trying to build a more needs-led approach in your school, this is a chance to step back, hear new ideas...

and come away with clear next steps for your school 😀

See the full programme and book your Super Early Bird place 👇

National SEMH Conference What school leaders need to know now about SEMH.

A pupil can follow every instruction and still not be okay.

⚠️ That’s the problem with using compliance as our main measure of success.

A student's who's quiet, polite and “no trouble” may actually be bottling up strong emotions all day - and then fall apart the moment they get home.

In this week’s episode of School Behaviour Secrets, I’ll show you why compliance and regulation are not the same thing...

..and share one simple question to help spot the pupils who may be flying under the radar (so they get the support they need).

👉 Listen for FREE, here:

Are We Mistaking Compliance For Regulation? (And Why It Matters)

https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/podcast/276

Headteachers and deputies - if behaviour issues are pulling you and your leadership team into constant firefighting, this free morning session is for you.

We’re running two live SEMH strategy sessions in June for school leaders who want a clearer, more proactive approach to behaviour, SEMH and inclusion.

You’ll look at how to build a whole-school approach that helps staff respond more confidently to pupils’ needs - so fewer situations end up being escalated straight to SLT.

We’ll cover how to:

✅ Reduce the pressure on leaders to be the first port of call every time behaviour spirals
✅ Support staff to understand what sits underneath dysregulated behaviour
✅ Build more consistent classroom responses to SEMH needs
✅ Strengthen your approach to inclusion, SEND and everyday high-quality inclusive teaching
✅ Align your SEMH and behaviour strategy with the direction of the new Ofsted framework, including its stronger focus on inclusion, attendance, behaviour and support for vulnerable pupils
✅ Leave with practical next steps you can take back into school

There are two dates available:

📍 Coventry - Tuesday 16th June 2026
Holiday Inn Coventry M6, Junction 2
8.30am to 11.30am
https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/events/coventry-semh-needs

📍 Dudley - Wednesday 17th June 2026
Village Hotel Dudley
8.30am to 11.30am
https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/events/dudley-semh-needs

The events are free to attend and include refreshments.

👉 Places are limited to headteachers, deputy headteachers and MAT leaders.

If SEMH needs are rising in your school, this is a chance to step away from the daily firefighting, think strategically and leave with a clear and sustainable plan for SEMH.

P.S. If you’re a school or MAT leader and you could gather at least 20 headteachers, deputies or senior leaders from your trust or local area, we’d be happy to explore running this session for you free of charge. DM me with the word “SEMH” and let's chat 😀

A pupil pushes their book away, looks you straight in the eye and says: “I don’t care."

😱 And that’s the trap.

Because most adults hear those words and feel pulled into proving why they should care.

So we explain why the work matters, warn them about consequences, talk about their future.

Or try to persuade them that this spelling activity, maths question or paragraph about Henry VIII is deeply important to their long-term destiny.

👉 But here's the thing.

Because “I don’t care” doesn’t always mean “I feel nothing,” sometimes it means, “I’m not letting you see this bothers me.”

Or:

“I don’t know how to start, and I’d rather look defiant than stuck.”

And - look - let's be honest.

Sometimes the work is boring.

(Don't look so shocked 👀)

❌ That means the goal isn’t always to make the pupil feel excited about the work (which can be impossible).

✅ But to use strategies that lower their tension and help them take the next step with their work... while keeping the expectations in place (much more do-able).

This week on School Behaviour Secrets, I’m explain why “I don’t care” can be such a trap for adults - and how to make that change successfully.

Search School Behaviour Secrets in your podcast app, or listen using the link in the comments.

We’re really pleased to announce that Hamish & Milo Wellbeing Resources will be joining us as a supporting partner at The National SEMH Conference.

Hamish & Milo’s work connects directly with the purpose of the day - helping schools support children’s mental health, wellbeing and social and emotional development in practical, structured ways.

Their evidence-based social and emotional learning programmes support schools with a graduated response for children with SEMH needs, including themes such as anxiety, resilience, friendship, conflict, loss, self-esteem, change and strong emotions.

That makes them a great fit for a conference focused on practical SEMH support, inclusion and clearer next steps for schools.

You’ll be able to meet the Hamish & Milo team in the conference marketplace on the day, ask questions and find out more about how their resources can support your school.

Welcome to the conference, Hamish & Milo!

Order your tickets for the National SEMH Conference here:

https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/semh-conference

Hamish & Milo Wellbeing Resources

😨 A pupil is out of class, a staff member is trying to de-escalate the situation, and a senior leader is already thinking, "How would this look if Ofsted were here today?"

Because the issue isn’t just whether your school cares about inclusion...

.. it’s whether an inspector can see a clear, consistent approach behind the decisions your staff are making.

And that’s where schools can get stuck.

Not because staff aren’t working hard on inclusion - but because it’s not always clear what strong practice looks like through Ofsted’s eyes 👀

👉 That’s why The National SEMH Conference includes a focused workshop on "What Ofsted Really Looks For When Inspecting Inclusion and SEMH".

You can see the full programme and book your Super Early Bird place - saving £250 - here:

https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/semh-conference

🤔 Ever worked with a pupil who seems fine one minute… then shouts, storms out or completely falls apart over something minor?

Sometimes we describe those kids as being "explosive" or "on a hair trigger."

🏷️ The problem is, those labels don't really help us really see what's going on.

There's actually some simple biology behind why their emotions escalate so quickly...

..but if we misread what's happening, we can easily end up using the wrong strategies (instead of actually helping them stay regulated and cope in class).

😀 Want to know more?

Listen to this week's episode of School Behaviour Secrets for FREE using this link 👇

When Behaviour Seems To Come Out Of Nowhere: Understanding Stress Stacking Big behaviour often has a hidden build-up