Pupils with challenging behaviour: risk assessments and guidance

Complete a risk assessment as early as possible to get support for the child and keep them, as well as other pupils and staff, safe. Download our template and use our prompts to help complete it.

Last reviewed on 28 February 2024
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 1879
Contents
  1. Download our risk assessment template
  2. Base a pupil's risk assessment on their behaviour plan
  3. Consider a risk assessment on a case-by-case basis
  4. Refer to the risk assessment regularly
  5. You don't need parental permission to create a risk assessment
  6. Use a specialist risk assessment for pupils who may self-harm

Download our risk assessment template

It covers the following types of challenging behaviour:

  • Verbal aggression
  • Physical aggression
  • Destructiveness

Our template includes prompts for identifying, assessing and managing the risks, to help you fill it out. 

Base a pupil's risk assessment on their behaviour plan

Create a proactive behaviour plan to help you manage challenging behaviour from a specific pupil. 

Include:

  • What the pupil looks like when they're calm and what keeps them calm
  • What the pupils looks like when they're getting agitated or upset and likely to misbehave
  • What the pupils looks like when they're in crisis, and what causes them to reach that point
  • What they need to protect themselves and those around them

Thinking proactively, and knowing what to do to prevent challenging behaviour, will help inform your risk assessment.

Consider a risk assessment