"Mark and Mandy are a great team who understand and deliver this approach fantastically. I really enjoyed the training day, felt very comfortable to ask questions as they immediately put me at ease. I feel so much more confident to handle children should I have to."

Mandy Reather is a Lead Educational Consultant of School Positive Handling.

Mandy has over twenty five years experience in education, including Headship level. She has worked in a range of schools mainly those serving areas of significant social deprivation. Mandy has a wealth of knowledge and skills in supporting pupils with complex behaviour issues and successfully coaches staff into confidently using preventative and de-escalation strategies to reduce aggression and anger in the classroom, based on trauma informed practice and understanding the biology underneath the behaviour. 

She is passionate in her belief that it is a privilege to support and nurture children and young people, but is realistic in her understanding that this is an extremely challenging job for school practitioners. Mandy recognises and empathises with the pressures put on school staff to ensure a high quality of behaviour from all pupils and the pressure that disruptive behaviour creates. Her strategies for dealing with challenging behaviour have been recognised as being ‘relevant,’ ‘highly effective’ and ‘inspiring.’

Mandy is a fully qualified Advanced Physical Skills Instructor, Advanced Safeguarding Instructor and has qualifications in Conflict Management and Breakaway & Disengagement. She is a Risk Assessment specialist and ensures full compliance with DfE Guidance.

Mark Reather is a Lead Educational Consultant of School Positive Handling.

Mark has worked in children’s services for over ten years working with children with varying emotional and mental health issues and learning disabilities.  Mark is a qualified Child Trauma and Mental Health Practitioner under the guidance of Dr Margot Sunderland at The Institute of Arts, Therapy and Education and the University of East London. 

Mark works tirelessly in reducing restrictive practices and improving outcomes in child and young adult services where behaviour challenges.  Marks specialises in Neurophysiology, Trauma Informed Practice, Mental Health, de-escalation strategies and relational interventions with troubled children. 

Fundamentally, Mark’s ethos is to help all organisations and those that care for children to have an increased focus on reducing the reliance on restrictive practices, promoting positive culture and practice that focuses on prevention, the root causes of behaviour, de-escalation and Positive Behaviour Support. 

Mark has delivered training and consultancy to educational settings in Mainstream, Special Schools, Alternative Provision, Children’s Homes, SEND Parenting Groups and Brain Rehabilitation Charities.