Functional Behaviour Assessment

Identify, assess, and document student behavioural needs quickly and consistently with this ready-to-use Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) tool for classroom teachers and SENCOs.

Designed to support evidence-informed decision-making, this resource provides a structured framework for observing and rating a wide range of student behaviours — from attention and impulse control to emotional regulation, social interaction, and anxiety.

What’s Inside
A 4 page PDF containing the following:

• 20-Item Behavioural Rating Scale – A structured observation checklist covering key areas of student behaviour across social, emotional, and academic domains. Each item is rated on a 1–5 frequency scale (Never to Always), allowing for consistent, comparable scoring across students and over time. Behaviours assessed include task avoidance, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, peer interaction difficulties, repetitive behaviours, and anxiety responses.
• Scoring System – A simple total score calculation out of 100, enabling teachers and SENCOs to quantify the overall level of behavioural concern at a glance.
• Score Interpretation Guide – A four-band interpretive framework (Low, Moderate, High, and Very High) that translates the total score into actionable guidance. Each band includes a clear description of what the score indicates and recommended next steps, from routine monitoring through to collaboration with behavioural specialists and the development of an individualised intervention plan.
• Assistive Technology Guide – A practical step-by-step guide to selecting and implementing assistive technology (AT) to support students with special educational needs (SEN). Covers needs assessment, key AT categories, and tools across reading, writing, communication, maths, and organisation.

How to Use
This assessment is well suited to use at the start of a new academic year, following a referral, or as part of an ongoing review cycle. Teachers can complete the rating scale independently based on classroom observations, or collaboratively with a SENCO or learning support assistant during a case review. The score interpretation guide makes it straightforward to prioritise next steps without specialist training, and the assistive technology guide provides immediate, practical follow-up strategies once support needs have been identified.

Grade Levels: Primary and Secondary

File Format: PDF (printable and projectable)

Note: This is a digital download only.