1. Programmes
  2. Managing Abusive and Aggressive Students
Jolanta Kawaler
Specialist in challenging behaviours

Managing Abusive and Aggressive Students

When a student insults you, refuses to cooperate, threatens others or loses control in front of the class, you need more than general behaviour-management advice. This programme shows you how to respond under pressure, de-escalate confrontation without giving up your authority, document serious incidents and handle difficult conversations with students and parents. Build a clear, professional response for the situations that can leave even experienced teachers unsure what to do next.

Essential

£49.00

£89.00
One-time · 12 months access
  • 10 video modules
  • Teacher's Toolkit (131 pages)
  • Certificate
  • Classroom materials
  • Case studies
  • Knowledge Booster
Professional Recommended

£69.00

£129.00
One-time · 12 months access
  • 10 video modules
  • Teacher's Toolkit (131 pages)
  • Certificate
  • 40 classroom materials
  • 8 case studies
  • Knowledge Booster (30 days)
Until 25 October 2026, this and every other programme is 45% off.
Standard price from 26 October: Essential £89, Professional £129.

Is this for you?

We use AI as a tool to support production, but we do not hand over responsibility for the content. Our materials are based on real webinars by our trainers and are reviewed and approved by a person before publication. The videos feature an AI-generated avatar and voice of the trainer, used with her consent.

What you'll implement?

What's inside this programme?

Video modules

10 modules · approx. 106 min total · one film per module
  1. 1
    Introduction
    4 min
    Free preview
    A short opening video introducing the purpose of the programme, the trainer’s experience and the three core pillars of the course: law, psychology and communication. You will see why traditional behaviour logs and sanctions often fail and why teachers need a more structured, professional response to abusive and aggressive behaviour.
  2. 2
    Legal foundations and diagnosing the reality
    23 min
    Available after purchase
    Why traditional punishments often fail, how to understand modern aggression in school, and how teachers can use legal and procedural protection.
    Lessons in this module
    1. The modern faces of aggression and arrogance in schools
    2. The teacher’s professional status and legal protection
    3. Legal responsibility of students and parents
    4. Transfer and permanent exclusion
  3. 3
    The mechanisms of aggression
    17 min
    Available after purchase
    What happens inside the student’s mind during anger, stress, overload or a meltdown and why the teacher’s first job is to reduce escalation, not win an argument.
    Lessons in this module
    1. The brain under construction
    2. The emotional hijack
    3. SEND, autism and aggression
    4. Cyberbullying and the erosion of empathy
  4. 4
    Communication and crisis intervention
    10 min
    Available after purchase
    Practical language and intervention strategies for the hardest classroom moments: shouting, refusal, confrontation, rage and verbal abuse.
    Lessons in this module
    1. “Don’t Poke the Lizard”
    2. Communication barriers and bridges
    3. Avoiding “Why?”
    4. Safety procedures during violent outbursts
  5. 5
    Long-term strategies and the pastoral toolkit
    9 min
    Available after purchase
    Tools for reducing repeated crises: relationship-building, self-regulation, whole-class systems and helping difficult students step into a more positive role.
    Lessons in this module
    1. Mentoring and “Cup of Tea” meetings
    2. Self-regulation tools
    3. The class mascot and the pasta jar
    4. The Halo Effect
  6. 6
    Working with parents and case studies
    13 min
    Available after purchase
    How to handle demanding, helpless or denying parents and how to protect your own emotional wellbeing when behaviour work becomes exhausting.
    Lessons in this module
    1. Disarming the demanding parent
    2. Case study: the defiant student
    3. The parent in denial
    4. Teacher wellbeing and burnout prevention
  7. 7
    Prevention and classroom dynamics
    10 min
    Available after purchase
    How to prevent escalation before it starts by using clear routines, classroom agreements, reintegration and audience management.
    Lessons in this module
    1. A classroom agreement that actually works
    2. Managing the audience
    3. Reintegration after an incident
    4. Routine as the foundation of safety
  8. 8
    Practical techniques for everyday challenges
    9 min
    Available after purchase
    Short, concrete strategies for passive resistance, refusal, arguing, weak documentation and daily classroom pressure.
    Lessons in this module
    1. Passive resistance and eye-rolling
    2. The Broken Record technique
    3. Writing an incident report
    4. Summary and action plan
  9. 9
    Q&A: difficult situations in practice
    9 min
    Available after purchase
    Direct answers to the situations teachers often face when there is no time to think.
    Lessons in this module
    1. What if the Headteacher forbids calling the police?
    2. What if a student refuses to leave the room?
    3. What if a parent threatens legal action?
    4. How to rebuild authority after an attack?
  10. 10
    Final video
    2 min
    Available after purchase
    A closing session that brings the whole programme together. You will revisit the key tools: legal protection, incident reporting, de-escalation, the Broken Record technique, classroom agreements and relationship-building. The final message is clear: you are not defenceless, you are a professional with tools, procedures and the right to protect your own wellbeing.

Teacher's Toolkit

131-page implementation guide · PDF
Theory, research and step-by-step guidance - designed to stay on your desk, not gather dust on your shelf.
  • Module summaries and key takeaways
  • Legal and professional notes
  • Case studies from school practice
  • Teacher checklists
  • Documentation guidance
  • Practical communication examples
See sample pages

Classroom Resource Library

Practical resources for real classroom situations

The Professional version gives you access to the complete library of practical resources created specifically for this programme. Inside, you’ll find ready-to-use materials that support classroom practice, behaviour analysis, communication, planning and implementation. Selected resources are available to preview for free, so you can see the format and approach before accessing the full library.

  • 48
    materials total
  • 2
    free for everyone
  • 48
    in Professional
  • Communication and language
    5 materials
    • YOU → I Transformation
      Examples of accusation-based statements changed into I-statements
    • Replace “Why?” Card
      Ready-made alternatives to questions that trigger defence
      Open
    • Confrontational Parent Script
      Structured language for difficult parent meetings.
      Open
    • Mini Handbook: 30 Sentences
      Practical phrases for students, parents and classroom tension
      Open
    • Autoresponder Templates
      Email replies that set professional communication boundaries
      Open
  • Diagnostic tools
    2 materials
    • Response Procedure Checklist
      5-step visual card for what to do during or after an incident.
    • Aggression Diagnostic Card
      Tool for identifying the main source of aggression.
      Open
  • Documentation and legal protection
    3 materials
    • Incident Report
      Formal record of an aggressive or abusive incident.
      Open
    • Parent/Carer Contact Log
      Running log of all communication with parents
      Open
    • Disagreement Protocol
      Record of meetings where no agreement was reached
      Open
  • Intervention and de-escalation
    5 materials
    • The 3R Sequence
      Crisis response card: Regulate, Relate, Reason
      Open
    • Conversation Scripts
      Ready-made phrases for difficult student situations
      Open
    • Broken Record Technique
      Assertive response structure for repeated pushback.
      Open
    • Red Card Runner System
      School-wide emergency alert protocol.
      Open
    • Safety Procedure: Rage Attack
      Step-by-step response for violent escalation.
      Open
  • Classroom management and relationships
    6 materials
    • Class Contract
      Fillable classroom values agreement
      Open
    • Visual Agenda
      Lesson structure template that helps reduce uncertainty
      Open
    • Visual Agenda Board
      Reusable classroom board version of the visual agenda
      Open
    • Our Pasta Jar
      Whole-class reward system based on positive group behaviour
      Open
    • Mentoring Card: Tea & Talk
      Structured 1:1 mentoring conversation card
      Open
    • Teacher Reflection Journal
      Weekly reflection tool for stress, response patterns and burnout prevention
      Open
  • Cybersafety procedures
    2 materials
    • Cyberbullying SOS Procedure
      Action plan for securing evidence and reporting online abuse.
      Open
    • Cyberbullying Response Procedure
      Teacher-facing guide for safeguarding and follow-up steps.
      Open
  • Staff training
    1 materials
    • Staff Meeting Presentation
      7-slide presentation for a 60-minute staff training session
      Open
  • Case studies
    8 materials
    • Connor: “Back off, Miss”
      Verbal abuse in front of the whole class
      Read
    • Poppy: The Glitter Jar
      Young pupil whose behaviour communicates emotional overload
      Read
    • Bradley: Empty Threats
      Repeated notes and warnings with no real consequence
      Read
    • Theo: EHCP and the Supply Teacher
      Meltdown linked to missing handover information
      Read
    • Mrs Hargreaves: Parent in Denial
      Parent meeting with denial and defensiveness
      Read
    • Liam: “I’m Not Going Anywhere”
      Student refuses to leave while the class watches
      Read
    • Ava: The Eye-Roll and the Slow Erosion
      Passive resistance and microaggressions
      Read
    • Mr Osei: After the Public Incident
      Rebuilding authority after public humiliation
      Read
  • Individual work with a challenging pupil
    6 materials
    • A conversation over tea
      Mini mentoring meeting with guided questions
      Open
    • The 3R Sequence in practice
      Intervention card for use during a crisis
      Open
    • Diagnosing the source of aggression
      Diagnostic activity for identifying the behaviour pattern
      Open
    • Choice technique in action
      Two-option script for refusal and passive resistance
      Open
    • Post-incident conversation
      Restorative conversation using “What, not Why”
      Open
    • Individual contract
      Two-week agreement signed by teacher and pupil
      Open
  • Whole-class activities
    10 materials
    • What kind of class do you want?
      Whole-class activity for creating a values-based class contract
      Open
    • The brain under construction
      Neurobiology lesson on emotional hijack and regulation
      Open
    • The jar is up and running!
      Classroom token system based on shared behaviour goals
      Open
    • Replace “Why?”
      Activity for changing blame questions into What/How questions
      Open
    • The Broken Record
      Dialogue game for practising calm assertiveness
      Open
    • Where does it come from?
      Group case analysis of different aggression sources
      Open
    • Don’t Poke the Lizard
      De-escalation simulation in small groups
      Open
    • Cyberbullying: what would I do?
      Decision-pathway activity for online abuse cases
      Open
    • Agenda - the start-of-lesson routine
      Visual agenda implementation guide
      Open
    • Staff meeting in 60 minutes
      Ready-to-use staff meeting scenario with action planning
      Open

Knowledge Booster

The Professional version includes the Knowledge Booster, which helps you return to the programme after completing the video course - step by step, without trying to implement everything at once. Inspired by Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve, it uses short emails sent at the right intervals to help you remember and apply what you learn.

Professional: 11 emails over 30 days
  1. 1
    Day 1
    3 pillars of the course
  2. 2
    Day 4
    Sanctions as painkillers
  3. 3
    Day 7
    The behaviour record
  4. 4
    Day 10
    The Downstairs Brain
  5. 5
    Day 13
    "Don't Poke the Lizard"
  6. 6
    Day 16
    Tea & Talk mentoring
  7. 7
    Day 19
    The Pasta Jar
  8. 8
    Day 22
    The demanding parent
  9. 9
    Day 25
    A classroom agreement
  10. 10
    Day 28
    The Broken Record
  11. 11
    Day 30
    Summary
You control when it starts. Activate from your account whenever you're ready - it won't start automatically.

Certificate of completion

Each Edutimo programme includes a short end-of-programme test. After completing the modules, take the test to confirm what you have learned and download your certificate of completion. The test is included in the programme and can be retaken if needed.

Ready? Take the test and get your certificate.

10 questions · approx. 10 min · available after completing all modules

Your trainer

Jolanta Kawaler

Teacher, trainer, mediator and deputy counselling centre director, valued for practical behavioural strategies, creativity and humour.

  • challenging behaviours
  • motivation
  • teaching methodology
  • addiction prevention
  • classroom discipline
What teachers say?

Trusted by teachers across Europe

Miriam Gibreel
primary school educator
"Highly Recommended CPD for Educators – Exceptional Neurodiversity and Practical Strategy Courses that are both relevant and impactful in modern day classrooms. Having spent 16 years teaching children aged 5 to 11 in London-based primary school settings, I am incredibly judicious about the professional development I invest my time in. I am thoroughly impressed by the extensive range of courses offered on Edutimo. In particular, Joanna Nienałtowska-Padło’s modules focusing on neurodiverse conditions are exceptional, providing deep insights alongside highly practical classroom advice. The strategies for navigating challenging situations and de-escalating them effectively have given me concrete, actionable tools that actually work in a live classroom environment. Additionally, the recommended resources and guidelines for creating personalised student toolkits are fantastic for helping children navigate day-to-day school life. As an experienced professional, I know that having up-to-date courses available is instrumental in confidently establishing well-prepared lessons and a welcoming classroom environment for the upcoming school year."
Margaret M.
Teacher
"Clear and well-explained step by step - what may cause various behaviours and how to deal with them."
Isabella A.
Teacher
"The trainer has a calming voice and manner. I will use paraphrasing in conversations with students and approach "comebacks" more boldly :) I will also try out the teddy bear method in the first grade."
Questions about this programme

FAQ

  • What's the difference between Essential and Professional?

    Essential includes the full video programme, the Teacher’s Toolkit ebook and a certificate of completion. Professional includes everything in Essential, plus the complete Classroom Resource Library and the Knowledge Booster.

  • How long do I have access?

    You receive 12 months of access to the programme after purchase.

  • Does the programme include ready-to-use materials?

    Yes. Depending on your package, you receive templates, scripts, cards, procedures, case studies and classroom tools.

  • What is the Knowledge Booster?

    It is a 30-day email sequence that helps you revisit the most important ideas from the programme and apply them step by step.

  • Do I receive a certificate?

    Yes. After completing the programme, you can download your certificate of completion.

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