Work Refusal Flowchart + Staff Script Cards: SEND De-escalation, KS3 to Post-16

A one-page flowchart for what to do when a pupil says “No” or puts their head down, and pocket-sized script cards so every adult in the room says the same calm thing.

When a pupil refuses work, most of us reach for a consequence too early, or we talk too much. This takes refusal in five stages, from the first sigh to the point where you need help, and gives you the words for each one. It is written for secondary, special school and post-16 groups, so the scripts sound like you are talking to a teenager, not a Year 2.

What’s in it (15 pages)

• What’s Under the No: 10 common reasons pupils refuse
• A one-page refusal flowchart, from “before the no” to getting back into the lesson
• 5 stage pages (first no, head down, escalation, recovery, re-entry) with what to do, 30 “say this, not that” swaps, and notes for PE, work placement and out in the community
• A page just for refusing to move on to the next thing
• 16 staff script cards to cut out and clip to a lanyard, including a card for supply staff
• A fill-in flow for one pupil, plus an after-refusal debrief page
• “What the team can do”: when to go to the SENCo, and how good notes make the next review easier

Use it on its own, or with the Refusal Data Tracker to find out what is behind the refusal.

Please note
This is classroom practice, not a behaviour policy. It does not cover restraint, seclusion or physical intervention; follow your school’s behaviour, positive handling and safeguarding policies, and the pupil’s EHCP or behaviour support plan if they have one.

Written by Jeremy D. Gooch, a teacher with 20+ years in education and a certified crisis prevention trainer. From The Transition Cliff.

Keywords: SEND, EHCP, Preparing for Adulthood, KS3, KS4, Post-16, work refusal, refusal, de-escalation, SEND behaviour, behaviour support, script cards, TA support, calm classroom