Paul Bray

Principal Tutor

TEAM TEACH

Paul Bray is a Principal Team Teach Tutor, Licensed Thrive Practitioner, and Ofqual regulated Safeguarding Trainer with over 25 years of experience at every age stage of education, within both mainstream and specialist provision. Paul is a member of the Learning & Development Team at Team-Teach, ensuring content is based on current research and best practice. He is a determined advocate for children with special educational needs, and their families, providing support and advice through ‘My Family Coach’, a Team-Teach platform. Paul has also delivered support for families internationally as a speaker for the South African based ‘It Takes a Village’ conference. Paul is a member of Plymouth Marjon University's Professional Advisory Group and has taught on the Special Educational Needs and Disability Studies degree course. Health and Wellbeing for all has always been of particular interest to Paul. He has been a Designated Safeguarding Lead, National Healthy Schools Coordinator, and School Workforce Health & Wellbeing Champion, leading across a wide range of roles, including eight years as Head of a post-16 SEND provision, Assistant Headteacher and Key Stage lead. Paul has become renowned for his work in supporting individuals and families navigate the difficult transition into adulthood, particularly for disabled young people and those with special educational needs. He has been a speaker at the National Association of Colleges' annual conference, The National Children's Bureau conference and the World Education Summit. Paul wrote his first Special Educational Needs resource book for Routledge publishers, in 2021. He has developed training packages for parent groups and professionals in education, health, and social services, including Cornwall County Council, the FPA Speakeasy charity, and Team Teach. Paul has featured in numerous publications, including the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen) and The Guardian newspaper.

SPEAKER SESSIONS

Wellbeing Space

15 November 2022 | 10:30 - 10:50 | English | The power of de-escalation and positive supports in a school learning culture

It is important to understand that all behaviour is communication, and we have a responsibility as professionals to value and give time to interpreting what is being communicated. This, alongside levels of self awareness and being emotionally available adults, allows us to create the best support for class groups and individuals. Woven into all this Is a toolkit of de escalation, both verbal and non verbal skills, which facilitate a positive school learning culture.

Skills Development

17 November 2022 | 10:30 - 12:30 | English | Level 1 & 2 from understanding behavior as communication to developing a de-escalation toolkit

A mix of the foundations of Level 1 & Level 2 training courses. Some of the learning outcomes participants will engage in:

• Increase understanding and awareness of behaviour as communication and develop a framework to better respond to reduce risk

• Understand the drivers and motivations displayed by individuals who are distressed and may become aggressive and disruptive

• Execute simple and safe positive handling techniques including personal safety, appropriate for a low/medium risk environment (If required by your setting). Our techniques are situated within a respectful, supportive approach to behavior support strategies which maintains positive relationships.

 • Utilise a toolkit of holistic strategies on de-escalation and crisis intervention, both verbal and non-verbal for supporting with disruptive and distressed behaviors.