The Impact of School Uniform on Behaviour | Dave Smallwood

In this episode, Clare talks to Dave Smallwood, Principal Team Teach trainer and Director at SENse Training and Consultancy, about the impact that wearing school uniform can have on behaviour.

They discuss the pros and cons of uniform policies, and how a prescribed dress code might influence a student’s attitude and behaviour in school.

Dave has worked in special schools, for both the local authority and the National Autistic Society, and has extensive experience of supporting young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities.

As a staff development co-ordinator for the National Autistic Society, he developed and delivered training in autism, and equality, diversity, and rights.

You can find Dave on LinkedIn.

He also shares three tips during the episode:

• While uniform policies are central to the ethos of some schools, it can be helpful to adopt a flexible, empathetic approach.
• Removing a sense of compliance and confrontation, and instead involving children and young people directly, can be an effective way to reduce conflict around uniform policies.
• Where we have students who struggle with aspects of wearing school uniform, perhaps due to sensory needs, we can consider making reasonable adjustments to accommodate their individual needs.

The Team Teach podcast shares the latest thinking in behaviour, all in handy 15-minute (ish) bite-sized chunks. Each episode features a new guest chatting about a different aspect of behaviour and leaves you with three handy tips to use in your setting.