NOW ON SALE – JUST $49
Sale Ends July 8th 2025
Behaviour Strategies for Teacher Assistants to Support Neurodiverse Students (AS, ADHD, PDA, ODD):
From the Authors of The Best Selling Teacher Assistant Big Red and Blue Book, a course to help Teacher Assistants with Behaviour Strategies when working with Neurodiverse Students.
✅ 2 Hours, 9 Lessons
✅ 6 Weeks to Complete
✅ Certificate of Completion
✅ Email questions directly to Sue Larkey
✅ Templates and Time Savers
✅ Lesson Transcripts
REVIEWS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Group Discounts!
See pricing details below
Behaviour Strategies for Teacher Assistants
Teacher Assistants Guide to Understanding Behaviour in the Classroom - Why it impacts Learning and & What to do
Learn practical, easy-to-implement strategies to support neurodiverse students with their behaviour, emotional regulation, and independence. In this course, you’ll discover how to identify triggers, reduce anxiety, and build strong, positive relationships with the students you support. Designed specifically for Teacher Assistants, the course is presented by Anna Tullemans, autism consultant and author, and Sue Larkey, educator and specialist in neurodiversity. With real-world examples and proven techniques, you’ll gain the confidence and tools to make a lasting impact in your classroom.
In this Teacher Assistant Behaviour training you will learn:
Observe Student Behaviour
Learn how to understand behaviours as a child’s way of telling you what they need when they can’t use words.
Managing Good Days and Bad Days
Discover the “spoon theory” and practical strategies to recognize when a student is overwhelmed, plus techniques for co-regulation and creating low-stress environments.
Support Decision Making
Get easy steps for breaking down big choices into smaller ones and helping students who struggle with decisions and getting organised.
Lesson Outline
Lesson 1 –Understanding Autism Spectrum & Insights into Behaviour
- Overview of Autism Spectrum
- What is Neurodiversity?
- Understanding each student as an individual with unique needs
- Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sound, sight and smell
Lesson 2 – Understanding that Behaviour is a form of Communication
- Behaviour is used to communicate wants, needs, or reactions
- Students use behaviour when they lack other ways to express themselves
- Strategies must be tailored to the individual
- Using observations, data and communication to decode the meaning behind behaviours
Lesson 3 – Generalisation, Adaptability and Choice Making
- Skills taught in one setting may not transfer to new environments
- Be explicit in showing how skills apply across different contexts
- Provide visual supports and practice to aid generalisation
- Simplify choices to 2-3 clear options to avoid overwhelming the student
- Model making mistakes and how to fix up
Lesson 4 – The impact of Executive Functioning (EF) on Behaviour
- Executive Function skills include organisation, working memory and emotional control
- Provide visual supports to support EF difficulties ie: schedules, timers, checklists
- Teach students to recognise and verbalise their emotional states
- Introduce tools like the “spoons”metaphor and “low and slow” days
- Don’t take behaviours personally – usually not aimed at you
Lesson 5 –Behaviour & Anxiety
- Anxiety is often a major cause of behaviour
- Recognise signs of anxiety
- Regulating Anxious States
- Divert, withdraw, or offer solitude if a child seems very anxious
- Adjusting Expectations
Lesson 6 – Behaviour Strategies
- Don’t try to tackle every behaviour at once – choose your top priorities
- Build skills sequentially rather than trying to extinguish behaviours
- Be consistent in your reactions day-to-day as much as possible
- Review preventative strategies if behaviour plans aren’t working
Lesson 7 – Creating a Behaviour Plan
- Developing a Plan using the Template Provided
- Identify underlying issues driving the behaviour through observation & data
- Use visual supports, social stories, peer modelling, and practice
- Plans should be collaborative and involve the child where possible
- Case Study of how to use behaviour plan
Lesson 8 – Creating a Behaviour Plan
-
Swearing & Bad Language
-
Hiding & Running Away
-
Not Leaving Activity They Like Doing
-
Calling Out
-
Doesn’t Want to Do Their Work
-
Fear of Making Mistakes
Lesson 8 – Creating a Behaviour Plan
- Seeing Behaviour as Communication
- Teaching Replacement Skills
- Taking a Collaborative Approach
- Adjusting Expectations
- Tailoring Strategies to Individuals
- Patience, Consistency and Relationships
Master Teacher Assistant Behaviour Strategies with Sue Larkey and Anna Tullemans
Address Sensory Needs
Learn to spot what bothers students in the classroom and create spaces that help them feel comfortable and reduce problem behaviours.
Create Effective Plans
Use simple methods to figure out why behaviours happen and create plans that teach new skills instead of just managing problems.
Build Transferable Skills
Learn ways to help students use what they’ve learnt in one place when they’re somewhere else, so you don’t have to keep re-teaching.
BONUS Resources
What Our Participants Say
“Great tips and strategies to put in practice while working with the students. Examples and case studies were easy to understand.”
“Must do one Sue Larkey course if you work with children…not even necessarily diagnosed children.”
“Very helpful as a new teachers aid who is struggling for ideas on behavior management. As well as it provides a good understanding of how the child is feeling and other ways to approach their behaviors.”
“Very useful has lots of tips and strategies, Even though we do this work on a daily basis it is good to get a better understanding of why and how children behave and that its not always a beaviour issue rather a way for how a child is asking for help but does not know how to express themselves.”
“Very engaging and informative. Time goes quickly 🙂”
“I have learned so much about behaviours and now I can understand the behaviours I’ve seen in my students. It gave me lots of ideas as well.”
“As a teacher aide you get caught up in the everyday and can loose your way. It’s great to be reminded of certain things and great to know about new approaches. All topics are spoken about in a very real way which makes it all very relatable. It’s easy to feel deflated at times but Sue and Anna make me feel that my role is important and does make a difference to a students life at school.”
“It is very informative and reassuring. The points raised helps in every day Teachers Aide work.”
“This course is easily followed, and enjoyable, and engaging. Lots of real life scenarios.”
Behaviour Strategies for Teacher Assistants to Support Neurodiverse Students:
✅ 2 Hours, 9 Lessons
✅ 6 Weeks to Complete
✅ Certificate of Completion
✅ Email questions directly to Sue Larkey
✅ Templates and Time Savers
✅ Lesson Transcripts
✅ 100% Money back – if, after the first two lessons, you decide the course is not for you
✅ IT support
Enrol in this Course with Confidence
100% Money Back Guarantee & Zero Risk Promise
If you start this course and find that it is not for you, we will refund 100%, no reason required. Just email support@suelarkey.com.au
Behaviour Strategies for Teacher Assistants to Support Neurodiverse Students
Includes full access to all course materials and a certificate of completion.
To have an invoice sent to your organisation for payment please email support@suelarkey.com.au.
Course Price: $99 per person - $49 for a Limited Time!
Group Bookings
For groups of 6 or more please email support@suelarkey.com.au to receive the discounted price. Payment can be made online using a code you will receive of via an invoice we can provide.
Course Price for a group of 6 or more: $49 per person
Meet Anna Tullemans
Anna Tullemans completed an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management and provides assistance and practical strategies for all ages and stages on the Autism Spectrum. Her passion for Autism Spectrum stems from her personal experience when her now adult son was diagnosed at the age of 6.
Her work includes assisting to implement many practical strategies for students in mainstream primary and secondary schools as well as adults with supported living arrangements.
She holds a University Certificate in Autism Spectrum from the University of Birmingham, England, as well as a Diploma of Education Support (Australia).
She is passionate about providing opportunities for people on the Autism Spectrum to achieve their goals and encourage an independent life and involvement in the community.
Meet Sue Larkey
Sue Larkey is a highly respected educator, author, and speaker with extensive experience in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She has taught students in both mainstream and special education settings, combining practical experience with extensive research. Sue holds a Master’s in Special Education and has completed the research sections of her Doctorate in Education.
Sue’s podcast, the “Sue Larkey Podcast,” has over 1.3 million downloads across more than 200 episodes and is the #1 ranked Apple Podcast in Australia in the Course category. Her podcast resources are used by leading universities, including Monash University and Canberra University, to train teachers. She also has a global following, with over 135,000 subscribers to her weekly e-newsletter in more than 30 countries and a community of 130,000 Facebook followers.
Sue has authored over 18 books aimed at educators, teacher assistants, and parents/carers, and is a former winner of the Naturally Autistic International Award for Community Contribution. She has delivered hundreds of speeches at both international and national conferences, earning recognition as a trusted source of knowledge, compassion, and inspiration for educators, support workers, and families.
PODCAST: Decoding Classroom Behaviour: An Educators Guide to Supporting Neurodiverse Students (AS, ODD, PDA, ADHD) (Episode 304)
Decoding Classroom Behaviour: An Educators Guide to Supporting Neurodiverse Students
(AS, ODD, PDA, ADHD)
Teacher Assistant Autism Support
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do we get the certificate?
Immediately upon completion of the course.
- Can this Course Count towards my Professional Development?
Yes. Completing Behaviour Strategies for Teacher Assistants to Support Neurodiverse Students – Why it impacts Learning and Behaviour & What to do in the priority area of Students/children with Disability addressing Standard Descriptor(s) 1.2 and 1.5 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
- What age is the course appropriate for?
The course is appropriate for supporting primary and secondary age children.
- Can the course be watched as a group?
Yes, the course can be watched together as a group, however each person participating needs to be individually registered.
- How long do I have to do the course
The initial access period is set to 6 months but we will always extend this if you need longer to complete the course.
- Can I rewatch the course?
Yes, you can rewatch the course as much as you like during the 6 months that the course is available to you.
- I am having technical issues, what do I do?
Contact our team on support@suelarkey.com.au
- When is the course on?
It is an online On-demand course, so it can be watched whenever it suits you.