Anger Management

Pupils may experience outbursts of temper for a variety of reasons for example:

• Inability to manage conflict with staff or peers.
• Immaturity.
• Frustration - eg. inability to do a task.
• Low self esteem or fear of failure.
• Difficulties outside of school at home or in the community.
• Certain conditions or syndromes - eg. ADHD, Autistic Spectrum disorders.
• The impact of medical conditions or medication.

Checklist

• Do the outbursts happen at particular times or places?
• Are there any recognisable triggers?
• Is the work/task within the pupil's capabilities?
• Has the pupil understood the instructions?
• Is there adequate supervision in the yard?
• Is the child familiar with the school's rules and routines?
• Does the child have friends?
• Are they reporting any difficulties with relationships - eg. bullying?
• Have parents reported a change of circumstances at home?
• Does the child have hearing/language difficulties?

Possible Strategies: Reactive

• Avoid escalation by not shouting, lower the tone of the voice.
• Send a pupil for help, if necessary.
• Remove the audience or pupil where practicable.
• Use restraint only where necessary and try to ensure that there is another adult present.
• Where two parties are involved, re-assure them that both points of view will be listened to.
• Don't attempt to discuss anything until the child is calm, make it clear to the pupil that you will wait.
• Enable the child to make reparation, if not immediately after, then as soon as is practically possible.

Possible Strategies: Proactive

• Work with the pupil over the long-term to identify and recognise triggers. One step back does not mean failure.
• Work with other staff and keep a diary. This should consider the ABC of behaviour - Antecedent (what was the trigger), the Behaviour and the Consequence.
• Gain the child's consent to familiarise other members of staff with these.
• Work with the child to identify alternate responses and give them an opportunity to rehearse them.
• Reward the pupil when they make the correct response.
• Provide an identified place/person to which the child should go in the event of an incident. Practise going there.
• Create quiet areas or alternative activities for pupils who find break-times difficult.
• Liaise with parents and inform them of the plan of action and child's progress.
• Use PSE lessons to work on conflict resolution, Circle Time, self-esteem, emotional literacy.
• Liaise with staff regarding potential work difficulties.
• Look for opportunities to praise pupils' work, performance etc.
• Create anger management/social skills groups in school.
• If concerned that the difficulty might be syndromic or medical, contact the relevant outside agencies.
• Create opportunities for the child to build bridges.