How the 5P Approach Began
Working as a specialist psychologist with children and young people with autism spectrum disorders, Linda found that she was often asked by parents, teachers and other professionals for guidance and practical help in dealing with the difficult and challenging behaviours they met on a daily basis.
At the time, there were lots of places where you could find detailed information about common forms of behaviour problems which can occur in autism, and what might be done to prevent or address them. Only a few strategies took account of the needs and views of the individual and why they might be behaving in certain ways. The reality was that teachers, parents and others were often simply overwhelmed by the range and number of behaviour problems which confronted them. Where do you start? And what happens when, in managing one set of problems, another gets worse – or a new problem appears? It was also very hard to find anything which helped with individual problems encountered and which approached issues on the basis of this individual, this place,this time, this context.
Perhaps most importantly, there was little concrete information written in the context of behaviour management which provided guidance on preventing problems before they even arise.
Linda began to take a look at why behaviour issues occur and what could be done to prevent them. Understanding, preventing and managing challenging behaviour can be very daunting without a framework to guide the process and it is with this in mind that the 5P Approach framework took shape. The 5P Approach framework was built upon the philosophy that behaviour issues emerge when an individual is not properly understood and when their needs are not fully taken into account.
The 5P Approach therefore begins with a focus on meeting needs and preventing issues (GREEN) rather than beginning with the problem (RED). Step by step, the 5P process and the accompanying record sheets were developed. The idea of colour coding emerged with the need to find a mechanism for explaining and showing different strategies for different levels (or severity) of behaviour ( a hierarchy). Over the years, all aspects of the 5P Approach were modified and refined as they were used within schools and with families. Two distinct elements of the 5P Approach have now clearly emerged which overlap and interact- prevention & ensuring positive well-being (GREEN) & problem-solving any "tricky" (RED) situations which arise. The colour based recording system reflects these two aspects. Developed more recently, the 5P Approach "Working with Me" pack reflects both elements and contains the Individual Green Zone (tailored and targeted support aimed at meeting needs and preventing issues) and also the Intervention Hierarchy (the behaviour plan- what to do about a current tricky issue to bring things back to GREEN).
Today the 5P Approach is used in a number of schools and organisations and by a range of professionals and, more recently, the use of the 5P Approach to intervention has been named within the Statements /EHCPs of pupils with autism. and SEND. The flexible framework and philosophy can be used successfully within a whole school or organisational approach, a class based or home based approach or used with just one individual.
An introduction to the 5P Approach is available in Linda's first book, "Practical Behaviour Management Solutions for Children & Teens with Autism - the 5P Approach". Linda's second book, "Developing Flexibility Skills with children and young people with autism - the 5P Approach to Thinking, Learning and Behaviour" was published in March 2013 and expands the 5P Approach concept. Read more about Linda's books in Resources.
At the time, there were lots of places where you could find detailed information about common forms of behaviour problems which can occur in autism, and what might be done to prevent or address them. Only a few strategies took account of the needs and views of the individual and why they might be behaving in certain ways. The reality was that teachers, parents and others were often simply overwhelmed by the range and number of behaviour problems which confronted them. Where do you start? And what happens when, in managing one set of problems, another gets worse – or a new problem appears? It was also very hard to find anything which helped with individual problems encountered and which approached issues on the basis of this individual, this place,this time, this context.
Perhaps most importantly, there was little concrete information written in the context of behaviour management which provided guidance on preventing problems before they even arise.
Linda began to take a look at why behaviour issues occur and what could be done to prevent them. Understanding, preventing and managing challenging behaviour can be very daunting without a framework to guide the process and it is with this in mind that the 5P Approach framework took shape. The 5P Approach framework was built upon the philosophy that behaviour issues emerge when an individual is not properly understood and when their needs are not fully taken into account.
The 5P Approach therefore begins with a focus on meeting needs and preventing issues (GREEN) rather than beginning with the problem (RED). Step by step, the 5P process and the accompanying record sheets were developed. The idea of colour coding emerged with the need to find a mechanism for explaining and showing different strategies for different levels (or severity) of behaviour ( a hierarchy). Over the years, all aspects of the 5P Approach were modified and refined as they were used within schools and with families. Two distinct elements of the 5P Approach have now clearly emerged which overlap and interact- prevention & ensuring positive well-being (GREEN) & problem-solving any "tricky" (RED) situations which arise. The colour based recording system reflects these two aspects. Developed more recently, the 5P Approach "Working with Me" pack reflects both elements and contains the Individual Green Zone (tailored and targeted support aimed at meeting needs and preventing issues) and also the Intervention Hierarchy (the behaviour plan- what to do about a current tricky issue to bring things back to GREEN).
Today the 5P Approach is used in a number of schools and organisations and by a range of professionals and, more recently, the use of the 5P Approach to intervention has been named within the Statements /EHCPs of pupils with autism. and SEND. The flexible framework and philosophy can be used successfully within a whole school or organisational approach, a class based or home based approach or used with just one individual.
An introduction to the 5P Approach is available in Linda's first book, "Practical Behaviour Management Solutions for Children & Teens with Autism - the 5P Approach". Linda's second book, "Developing Flexibility Skills with children and young people with autism - the 5P Approach to Thinking, Learning and Behaviour" was published in March 2013 and expands the 5P Approach concept. Read more about Linda's books in Resources.