Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is included, if any, in the Initial Teacher Training content framework on (1) how to speak to children and what constitutes verbal abuse from adults to children, and (2) behaviour management.

The Initial Teacher Training Core Content Framework (CCF), alongside the Early Career Framework, sets out the minimum entitlement of training and support for all trainee teachers.

The CCF is underpinned by the Teachers’ Standards (2011), and behaviour management is addressed in High Expectations and Managing Behaviour (S1 and S7 of the CCF). This is in line with Standard 7 of the Teachers’ Standards, which requires teachers to “manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment”. Part Two of the Teachers' Standards requires teachers to ensure that they are “treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position”.

The CCF has been reviewed with consideration of how to best prepare trainee teachers to support pupils by creating respectful cultures within their classrooms where pupils feel motivated and valued, and highlights the importance of building strong, positive relationships with pupils.