Behaviour Awareness Week 2026
September 22 - September 26
About Behaviour Awareness Week 2026
What is Behaviour Awareness Week?
Behaviour Awareness Week is an annual campaign launched by Great Minds Together (GMT) to foster awareness and a deeper understanding of behaviour in children and young people. The week serves as a platform to encourage educators, parents, policymakers, and communities to rethink their approaches to managing behaviour, moving away from punitive methods and towards more therapeutic, trauma-informed practices.
When is Behaviour Awareness Week 2026?
Behaviour Awareness Week 2026 takes place from Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 26 September 2026.
| Year | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 September | 26 September |
Why Behaviour Awareness Week Matters
Understanding behaviour in children and young people is one of the most important challenges facing schools, care settings, and families today. Traditional approaches to behaviour management have often relied on punitive measures — detentions, exclusions, and sanctions — which evidence increasingly shows can be counterproductive, particularly for children who have experienced trauma, adverse childhood experiences, or who have special educational needs.
Behaviour Awareness Week champions the principle that all behaviour is a form of communication. When a child acts out, withdraws, or struggles to engage, there is almost always an underlying need or experience driving that behaviour. By understanding the root causes rather than simply punishing the symptoms, adults can provide more effective, compassionate support that helps children develop the skills they need to thrive.
This approach is especially important for children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, as well as those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These young people are disproportionately affected by exclusionary behaviour policies and often benefit most from therapeutic approaches that prioritise understanding and support over consequences.
About Great Minds Together
Great Minds Together is a UK-based organisation that supports children and young people with special educational needs and social, emotional, and mental health needs, as well as their families and the professional networks around them. GMT works to drive systemic change in how schools, care homes, and residential settings approach behaviour, advocating for policies rooted in empathy, evidence, and best practice.
The organisation campaigns for schools to replace punitive behaviour policies with therapeutic and trauma-informed alternatives. Through training, consultancy, and advocacy, GMT equips educators and carers with the tools and knowledge to support positive behaviour and emotional wellbeing in the young people they work with.
How to Get Involved
Behaviour Awareness Week offers opportunities for schools, parents, carers, and professionals to engage with the topic of behaviour in meaningful ways:
- Review your behaviour policies — Schools and care settings can use the week as an opportunity to assess whether their behaviour policies are therapeutic and trauma-informed, or whether they rely too heavily on punitive measures.
- Attend webinars and training — Great Minds Together runs free webinars during Behaviour Awareness Week, exploring topics such as how behaviour communicates unmet needs, trauma-informed practice, and supporting children with SEMH needs.
- Start conversations — Talk to colleagues, parents, and young people about what behaviour means and how adults can respond more effectively. Open dialogue is the first step towards changing practice.
- Share on social media — Use the hashtag #BehaviourAwarenessWeek to share resources, experiences, and insights throughout the week.
- Learn about therapeutic approaches — Explore resources on trauma-informed practice, restorative justice, and emotion coaching. Great Minds Together offers guidance and training for professionals looking to develop their skills.
- Support the campaign — Visit the Great Minds Together website to learn more about their work and how you can support their mission.
The Case for Therapeutic Behaviour Approaches
Research consistently shows that therapeutic approaches to behaviour produce better outcomes for children and young people. Schools that have adopted trauma-informed practices report improvements in attendance, engagement, and academic achievement, alongside reductions in exclusions and behavioural incidents.
Therapeutic approaches recognise that punishing a child for behaviour they cannot yet control does not teach them the skills they need. Instead, these approaches focus on building relationships, teaching emotional regulation, and creating safe, predictable environments where children feel supported. For many young people, particularly those who have experienced adversity, this relational approach is transformative.
Hashtags: #BehaviourAwarenessWeek #GreatMindsTogether #AllBehaviourIsCommunication
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