Overview

There are overall 18,000 students with mild special educational needs in mainstream schools in Singapore. According to a recent statistics report, approximately 10,000 of these students are in the secondary level.

In addition, a new regulation from the Ministry of Education will be implemented in 2019, wherein all children with moderate to severe special education needs will be part of the compulsory education framework. These children will be required to attend a special education school funded by the government, unless the child is granted exemption.

This means that educators as well as parents of children and youth with special needs will be requiring further help and support, especially when it comes to handling the children and youths’ challenging behaviours that come alongside the adjustments they are facing now and the changes they will be confronted with.

What is Challenging Behaviour?

Challenging behaviour is persistent behaviour that leads to problems and difficulties to the child or youth with special needs. It is considered challenging because it challenges the individuals who assist the child or youth with special needs to understand why the behaviour is happening and to be able to work together to achieve a solution.

Examples of challenging behaviours include tantrums, aggression (e.g., hitting, pinching,  kicking), destruction (e.g., throwing objects, flipping tables), self-injury (e.g., head banging, self-biting), and various other behaviours (e.g. running away).

Typically, a challenging behaviour puts the safety of the person with special needs or others in some danger as well as restricts the child or adolescent’s capacity to have a good life.

What is Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)?

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is grounded on the theory of learning, with a growing evidence base as an effective method in dealing with challenging behaviours. PBS also has a strong values base and is a person-centred approach, where its focus is on the individual and his or her unique needs. It is positive as it enhances and strengthens the helpful and suitable behaviours—this gives more focus on the positive behaviours in dealing with challenging 2 behaviours.

PBS is likewise preventive as it proactively anticipates when things may go wrong and avoid it from happening.

Workshop Summary

This two-day workshop will include two parts: theory and practice.

The first part will provide necessary information on challenging behaviours and will outline the principles and elements of PBS including research evidence and case study examples. Strategies for teachers to apply in the classroom will be shared.

The second part will include hands-on training on how to gather and analyse behavioural data as well as how to create a behavioural plan for the child.