Private correction (quiet ‘side script’)
Aim (what it achieves)
Correct behaviour without creating a public confrontation.
When to use
When a student is sensitive to embarrassment or escalates when corrected publicly.
How to use (steps)
Teacher language (examples)
“I need silence now. Thank you.”
Top tips (makes it work)
Keep it private; keep it brief; follow through calmly if needed.
Common pitfalls
Calling out across the room; adding commentary; ‘naming and shaming’.
SEND/PP considerations
Particularly important for SEND/PP students who interpret public correction as rejection.
Useful for these SEND needs
Relevant SEND Needs
Why this strategy helps
- Uses low-arousal redirection to protect dignity.
- Reduces cognitive load and supports completion.
- Supports regulation and relational safety.
Universal SEND-friendly: Yes
SEND-targeted: Yes
Tags
Vulnerability
May be especially relevant for:
Sources
Used in
Common Behaviour Issues (Behaviour Hub)
- Interrupt & Redirect Work avoidance / blank page / 'I can't'
- Interrupt & Redirect Low-level defiance / arguing / 'No' (mild)
- Interrupt & Redirect Peer friction / bickering / low-level conflict
- Interrupt & Redirect Disorganisation / missing equipment / dead time
Related strategies
Take-up time (instruction, then step away)
Increase compliance by removing the ‘audience’ and pressure.
Positive framing (correct while staying on their side)
Hold the boundary while preserving relationship and motivation.
Least invasive intervention ladder
Match the smallest effective response to the behaviour.
Micro-choice (bounded options)
Prevent escalation by giving controlled choice without lowering expectations.
Prompt with a question (self-correction)
Encourage students to correct themselves without a battle.
Describe–Direct–Disengage (3D correction script)
Correct quickly without emotion or escalation: state behaviour, give direction, then move on.