Success Stories: ACE Tiverton Special School

How building behaviour and consequence systems with students improved understanding and engagement.

• • Name: Hannah Smart

• • Role: Executive Headteacher

• • Organisation: ACE Tiverton secondary special school

• • Location: England, UK

About ACE Tiverton School

ACE Tiverton supports 11-16 year olds with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition and related Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. It is part of Transforming Futures Trust.

The school is located in a rural town in Devon and students are taught in small groups allowing for personalised, differentiated learning.

Why use Team Teach

ACE Tiverton’s approach to behaviour support is about relational practice. Hannah says, “We talk about the 95% of what we do – absolutely everything short of a physical intervention. It’s all of those things that you need to consider and be aware of when working in our environment. It’s the look on your face, the tone of your voice, even the perfume you’re wearing.”

Senior leaders at ACE Tiverton find that Team Teach training helps staff to remove any disconnect between how teachers, support staff and senior leaders, as well as young people and their families understand behaviour and how it should be supported. Hannah explains, “We work together as a staff team to script conversations so we’re consistent. Ultimately, we also work on a process of debrief, reducing the need for physical interventions and the number of incidents we have, but also creating strong relationships with our young people.”