Behaviour Team

The Behaviour Team—Nush, Beth and Sophie— are on call to support children to regulate their emotions and develop positive learning behaviours through a range of supportive techniques and a relational approach. Working within the holistic curriculum, they help pupils thrive by using approaches such as ELSA support, restorative conversations and personalised strategies that encourage emotional awareness and resilience. Based in the Sanctuary, a calm and welcoming hub, the team provides a safe space where children can talk about their feelings, regulate, and take time in a peaceful environment when needed. They also support pupils with their work, help build positive relationships, and guide children in repairing and strengthening friendships when difficulties arise. 

Sophie Viner

Specialist Teacher and PROACT-SCIPr-UK instructor

NPQ: Leading behaviour and culture

Hello, I’m Sophie, a Specialist Teacher with the Specialist Outreach Service (SOS). I am currently in my seventh year at The Mendip School and have experience across both mainstream and special education settings.

Throughout my career, I have worked in a range of roles, from support staff to leadership, giving me a broad understanding of the challenges schools face and how to implement effective solutions. My areas of expertise include autism, communication needs, PDA, and SEMH.

Although primary trained, I have taught pupils from Early Years through to Key Stage 4. At The Mendip School, I lead Science, am a member of the Behaviour Team, and have been a PROACT-SCIPr-UK instructor for the past five years.

I enjoy working alongside mainstream schools to develop practical, tailored strategies that strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for all pupils.

The most rewarding aspect of my role is seeing pupils thrive in environments that may once have felt challenging. By developing adults’ understanding, confidence, and skills, we can remove barriers to learning. Equally, I value how much we learn from the young people themselves, whose unique perspectives often provide the greatest insights and help us continually refine our practice.