Behaviour Is Communication. Marie Gentles & Katie L'Aimable - Head and Deputy Headteacher - Hawkswood Primary PRU

This is a very easy to listen to conversation with the headteacher of Hawkswood Primary PRU (Pupil Referral Unit), Marie Gentles and her deputy, Katie L'Aimable, who have gone from seeing children’s behaviour as isolated events to understanding that all behaviour is communication.

“If you don’t understand behaviour as communication, you can’t fully understand the child. When you don’t understand the child, you can only see the behaviour. When you only see the behaviour, you then limit what potentially that child can do.”

The documentary charts the progress of a primary school child from their experiences in a mainstream setting to their current PRU placement. Through conversations with senior leaders, teachers, the parent and the child himself, we see for ourselves the importance in looking for and understanding what the child is trying to communicate through their behaviour. For example, would you understand that, quite possibly, the reason that a child who ‘stole’ from the teacher actually needed a piece of the teacher to take with them to a place that they perceived to be a threat or at least, not safe? 

The positive outcomes achieved by the young man who is the focus for this programme are inspirational; to listen to his eloquent articulation of his aspirations is extremely poignant.

Blog by Andy Redman (ALT)

Listen to the Podcast

Marie and Katie now work independently for their consultancy Magic Behaviour Management