To become more confident in dealing with individual pupils you will need to

• Use age and ability-appropriate language, ie. words and instructions that pupils understand
• Avoid talking down to them
• Get to know your children, especially those with special educational needs
• Plan individual behaviour strategies in advance
• Apply behaviour management strategies which are simple and effective to use
• Give pupils the opportunity to recover their behaviour and attitude, at any time during the cycle of consequences
• Never give ultimatums/threaten consequences that you could/do not wish to enforce

Extend your behaviour management toolkit by

• Seeking advice and help should you need to remember that the inappropriate behaviour of a minority is not (usually) restricted to your classroom
• Being honest, professional and develop the confidence to share your concerns
• Observing experienced teachers in action in particular how they manage difficult pupils in the classroom and around school
• Listening to how they deal with pupils in a 1 to 1 interview
• Treat your school placement and early teaching experiences as a ‘learning curve’ for your professional development