the Interactive Guide to
Behaviour Management
for Trainee and Newly Qualified Teachers
Case studies: Special educational needs
Liam refuses to take part in PE
Module 7
Classroom management
The following skills and strategies will allow you to be creative and flexible in resolving this issue
Praise Liam for his positive contribution in previous lesson/s
- Check that Liam’s PE clothing and/or equipment is in school
- Offer to supply a clean set of kit and trainers
- State the expectation eg. “Liam, everyone has to do all lessons. There is no choice.”
- Repeat the expectation “Every one has to change for PE.” Repeat as necessary
Give Liam the option of changing in private when the changing room is empty
- Use adult support to encourage Liam and monitor progress
- Selectively ignore the sulking attitudes and monitor the length of the delay tactics
- Overall, do not ‘push him into a corner’
Keep an encouraging dialogue going to identify the issue of concern
- Query whether his friendship groups are a concern. Change them if necessary
Detach from the issue and quote
- “The choice is yours. Either change and do PE or you are choosing a consequence in your own time”
- Use and set a time limit and state your expectation eg
“I think it will take 3 minutes to get changed. You can do the right thing and join the class for PE”
Move Away and observe reaction
- If still refusing, give Final Warning and apply a 5 minute Timed Consequence
- Send for additional adult support if still non-compliant after 5 minutes
Liam cannot be left unsupervised and the class is waiting to start the lesson
- Increase Timed Consequences in multiples of 5 minutes to 15 minutes maximum
- Apply Time with Teacher and all time wasted to be made up in Liam’s free time
- Explain your expectations for next lesson
Review your rewards/consequences strategy ready for next lesson