Do you have a passion for improving the support that autistic individuals or individuals with a learning disability receive?
The positive behaviour support (PBS) Community of Practice meet quarterly. It is a supportive community to share and learn from others who work with, care for, or support autistic people or people with a learning disability.
Anyone can join. You do not need to know about positive behaviour support.
Supporting individuals to try new foods
Session details
- Date: Thursday 6 February 2025
- Time: 10am to 12pm
- Join the 6 February meeting.
Refusing to eat some foods or types of food is a phase lots of children go through and a natural part of their development. It's often a way to show their independence and test boundaries. This is normally a phase they'll grow out of. For some children, this carries on into adulthood.
In this session we'll explore:
- how early experiences affects food preference
- role modelling
- food neophobia - fear and rejection of eating new or unfamiliar foods
- pressure to finish food and use of food as a reward
- the Eatwell Guide
- how to support individuals to try new foods.
This session will help those caring for all age groups, but may be of particular interest to those caring for young children as this age provides the best opportunity to support.
The session will not be suitable for those who look after individuals experiencing disordered eating or eating disorders such as Pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
Good nutrition is one area of an individual’s quality of life. People with a good quality of life are less likely to display behaviours that challenge, while those with a lower quality of life are more likely to experience:
- anxiety
- depression
- low self esteem.
Upcoming events
Further details about the events to be confirmed soon:
- Small steps - 1 May 2025, 10am to 12pm. Join 1 May 2025 meeting
- Effective behavioural support tools - 7 August 2025, 10am to 12pm. Join 7 August 2025 meeting
- Getting the basics right - 6 November 2025, 10am to 12pm. Join 6 November 2025 meeting.
More information
For more information on how to join the community of practice and receive regular invites and newsletters email cypt@medway.gov.uk.
Video webinars from our community of practice
- Saxon Way - a school wide approach to implementing PBS
- KASBAH - a residential setting application
- PERMA - a useful tool developed by Martin Seligman to develop quality of life strategies as part of a PBS plan
- implementation in Early Years SEN
- understanding your child's needs
- self-reflection and understanding your impact
- maintaining positive wellbeing, mental health and managing emotions
- helping children and young people to sleep better: a proactive approach
- how food can affect mood
- short intro into what PBS is
- more in depth intro into PBS and the project in Medway
- looking at PBS through a trauma-informed lens
- understanding emotional regulation as a proactive strategy
- an insight into Studio III low arousal techniques
- community wide application of PBS in Medway presented at BILD’S International PBS conference 2021
- small Steps - supporting sensory needs
- overuse of technology
- data collection for the family home
- positive reinforcement
- social isolation
- obesity and talking about weight with confidence.
Image credits: Photosymbols