This webinar, from an Occupational Therapy perspective, will help SENCOs support their staff in understanding the link between regulation and behaviour. Attendees will explore how sensory processing, emotional regulation, and behavioural responses are interrelated and gain practical strategies to help staff recognise and manage dysregulation in the classroom. The session will provide SENCOs with tools to guide teachers in creating supportive environments that foster self-regulation, enhance well-being, and promote positive behaviour.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Participants will be able to identify the link between regulation and behaviour and educate other staff members on the importance of co-regulation in the classroom.  

2. Participants will be able to implement practical strategies for managing dysregulation in the classroom, aligned with the Irish Primary School Curriculum’s emphasis on promoting a positive, inclusive learning environment in the areas of Well-being and Behaviour for Learning.

3. Participants will be able to guide staff in creating classroom environments that support self-regulation, fostering a space for social and emotional development, as outlined in the Irish Primary School Curriculum's Guidance on Developing Positive Behaviour Strategies.

Facilitator: Jessica Kennedy

Jessica Kennedy is a Senior Occupational Therapist, Director of My OT & Me and Co-Founder of Gabadoo. With over ten years of experience in private practice across both Australia and Ireland, Jess has developed a deep passion for school-based support, parent coaching, and telehealth. Jess has a strong interest in regulation and behaviour and she collaborates closely with teachers and families to create inclusive, supportive environments. Her work has been published in the Journal of Occupational Science and the British Journal of Occupational Therapy. Through both My OT & Me and Gabadoo, Jess continues to make a lasting impact on the education and well-being of children.