Some thoughts on behaviour arising from recent comments on (where else?) The Twitter

1. Children, for the most part, have not been traumatised by lockdown. There is no evidence to suggest this, and plenty to suggest that for most it was inconvenient, maybe boring, etc. We should consider some may even have benefited from increased time spent with families etc

2. Treating children as fragile ornaments unable to cope with life is a recipe for teaching them to treat all adversity as a catastrophe. Teaching them that life is sometimes tough (and sometimes not), is a more useful mindset

3. Lots of children are bloody delighted to get back to school. We saw this especially in the Summer term of 2020 when cohorts temporarily re-expanded again. Th reasons are obvious: we find a huge amount of meaning in our relationships with others. They missed their friends.

4. And plenty missed school! It gives them structure, meaning and purpose, Learning can be a powerfully positive experience.

5. For years we've had well-meaning advocates describe school as traumatic and stressful for children. Now many of these advocates claim that *being away from school* is traumatic and stressful. Make. Your. Mind. Up.

6. Telling children that we'll be 'catching up' is potentially one of the least threatening things I can imagine saying to a child short of offering them an Easter egg. Schools won't be barking 'CATCH UP!' at them. For the most part this is an adult conversation people will have

7. Disciplined, safe, orderly environments are THE best places for children to learn, be and feel safe, and to minimise stress, bullying, anxiety etc. Children are *more* stressed* by chaotic environments where routines and norms are inconsistent. *Especially* children with SEND

8. Trust is best built in safe, calm ordered environments where adults can be relied upon to be dependable. Relationships aren't forged by caring lots and lots; they are based on trust. And trust is built on predictability of action and character.

9. Children will feel *more* valued when teachers make it clear they matter, their learning matters, and what they do matters. This involves much more teaching of behaviour and norms than it does corrections, sanctions or rewards.

10. Children definitely do need opportunities to play. Happily, that's what many of them will have been doing for months at home. And cunningly, schools have already invented playtime, lunch breaks, clubs, etc. What they really need now, is school.

11. 'Expecting children to do as they are asked the first time' is the absolute minimum bar we need to achieve in a school community. You don't get it all the time. That's why it's an expectation. We teach children to value the community norms, and how to meet them.

12. I appear to be on a roll and already regretting this isn't a blog. Remember blogs?

13. School systems should never be built on punishments etc. That's not what I advocate or what the DfE recommends. There are so many straw men flying around in behaviour debates it sometimes feels like a hurricane in a hayfield.

14. Finally, many students will need extra support due to difficult times in lockdown. Schools need to be alert to this and offer that support when they can.