NVR for Schools

Welcome to PartnershipProjects

PartnershipProjects (PP) is proud to be the first to offer NVR and New Authority foundation training designed exclusively for school staff in the UK.

Since 2006, we have delivered industry-leading Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) Training and NVR Coaching to thousands of professionals and families.

“Adopting an NVR approach creates a culture where young people can feel consistently psychologically and physically safe, regardless of their needs. In this way, schools truly become an anchor for their community, a place where young people and their families want to be.”

Jackie Lindeck, PartnershipProjects Training Director & NVRA Accredited Practitioner

 

NVR for Schools

What is NVR?

Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) is an evidence-based approach developed by Professor Haim Omer and his team at the University of Tel Aviv. Originally developed to support parents and carers, it has been adapted for school and community settings. NVR is the only psychological approach that directly addresses harmful or self-destructive behaviour in young people, as well as the environment in which those risks occur. It is increasingly used as a transdiagnostic, systemic approach across a variety of contexts, with a growing international evidence base.

What is New Authority?

New Authority is a concept developed by Haim Omer that reframes how adults lead and influence young people. Rather than relying on positional power, hierarchy, or sanctions, New Authority is built through presence, transparency, self-control, and community, adults who stay calm, stay connected, and stay consistent. It is the foundation of the NVR approach in schools.

Who should take part?

We offer NVR Workshops & Trainings for individuals and for whole schools. NVR works best as a shared whole-school approach, so we encourage as many staff as possible to participate, from senior leaders and class teachers to SENCOs, pastoral staff, and teaching assistants. We also offer a dedicated half-day introductory session for senior leadership teams who want to explore the approach before committing to whole-staff training.

Fantastic

You’re fantastic, and I really appreciate you taking the time to teach us this!
from an Educational Professional

It’s had an impact

I feel much calmer and more confident in my interactions
from an Educational Professional

Grounding myself

Taking the time to regulate my own emotions before speaking with children so that they don’t get ‘antsy’, because of stuff going on. Grounding myself in my office or deferring a site walk if needed – helpful for students, staff and my team who don’t then get the aftermath of my hurricane!!
from an Educational Professional

Positive

I have noticed young people are behaving differently, almost in advance of interacting with me. Or perhaps the NVR lens I am using is making me think that? Whichever, it is positive

from an Educational Professional

Stay calm but persistent

I have learnt to not respond to students in an angry way or in a way that they may perceive as me having a go at them. Instead, I stay calm but persistent and if it doesn’t work, I walk away and defer the conversation.
from an Educational Professional

Amazing

I have remained cool and chosen self-control in a couple of incidents in my class, and the results were amazing.
from an Educational Professional

Enjoying the lessons

I am enjoying the lessons. Still quite shy about the small group activities though. Prefer written, but it is insightful.
from an Educational Professional

The Challenge Schools are Facing

In 2023/24, there were 955,000 suspensions in England, a 21% rise on the previous year, and 10,900 permanent exclusions. Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the leading cause, and the data reveals stark inequalities in who is excluded. At the same time, the SEND system is under enormous strain, with government reform demanding that schools become more inclusive without the resources or relational frameworks to make that a reality.

“When adults enter into a struggle for control, they lose authority.”

Haim Omer, Courageous Teachers (2021)

NVR offers something different: a whole-school cultural framework that places responsibility for change with adults, not pupils. Rather than relying on sanctions and control, it builds a community of calm, consistent, present adults who support each other and the young people in their care. The shift is from 'you must' to 'we will'.

What we can offer

For Individual Professionals within Schools:

- An Introduction to NVR Workshop

- NVR Foundation Level Training

For Schools:

- A FREE Consultation discussing the implementation of NVR within your School, we could offer NVR Foundation Level Training tailored to the School or a dedicated half-day introductory session for senior leadership teams, giving leaders the understanding they need to make the case for whole-staff training and plan for sustainable implementation.

Contact Us

Designed for all School Staff

NVR works best when it becomes a shared language across the whole school community. This training is suitable for anyone working in a school setting, from leadership to classroom teachers, pastoral staff and SENCOs. The more staff who share the approach, the more consistent and effective it becomes.

 

  • Headteachers & senior leaders
  • SENCOs
  • Pastoral staff
  • Class teachers
  • Teaching Assistants (TA)
  • Family liaison officers

FREE Resources for NVR Schools

Listen to the engaging NVR Podcasts about NVR in Schools & New Authority

FREE NVR for Schools Special Interest Group - Every Month!

The NVR Journal, for NVR Professionals, Parents & Caregivers. View here >

NVR Blog Post Francesca Kamei - Teacher
NVR – Education To Understand The Child And Support Them For The Better

Teachers in loco-parentis isn’t as easy as it sounds. Taking on a new approach to the traditional NVR (Non-Violent Resistance) concepts and adapting the tools to be used in the ever-changing dynamics of the education system.

Have you ever had a teacher who made a positive impact on you that you remember to this day?

A Parent’s Review of NVR – How it helped our Family

Our family was referred to PartnershipProjects because we were at a loss to know what to do with our teen son. Because of a severely stressful family problem, he turned from being a generally happy teen to becoming increasingly depressed, anxious and finally violent. He was shutting himself off, stopping going to school, addicted to screens, swearing at us, and wall punching. We were treading on eggshells.

From Exclusion to Inclusion – New Authority in Education

This article originates from real-world insights gained working in a specialist Early Help team in London, dedicated to supporting families and schools in preventing the exclusion of a child. It summarises how innovative Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) approaches, viewed through a trauma-informed lens, can powerfully transform the narrative from exclusion to inclusion for the children and families we work with.

NVR in an SEMH special school: the ultimate show of adult presence

In the spring and summer terms of 2022 I ran an NVR programme for a new SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) special school in the area where I work as an Educational Psychologist and Systemic Family Therapist.  The funding for this was from the COVID Recovery fund. I ran this programme with two colleagues, one of whom joined me for the parent / carer group and the other with whom I co-facilitated the school staff group, who met separately. Most staff sessions were in person, but some sessions had to be carried out online due to COVID 19. The parent sessions were run online exclusively from the beginning. The school had opened in 2020 during the pandemic and staff turnover was high

In this blog post I describe my learning from the NVR school staff group.

Imagine…

Throughout my NVR journey, I’ve been intrigued by how the power of the imagination can support my parenting. Can I reimagine my position as a parent and see the connection with my child strengthened? I’m curious and with the support of our NVR practitioner, have begun to explore some simple imaginary techniques.

FREE Resources for NVRA Members

Watch Dr. Tony Meehan's Presentation: From Old Authority to Losing Authority to Reclaiming Presence

NVR in Schools Tony Presentation

Join other NVR Professionals in the NVRA School's Forum. A safe space for connection, discussion and sharing resources.

Read the NVRA School's Blog: Presence Before Pedagogy: How Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) Transformed My View of School

Tony NVRA NVR in Schools blog

Why choose PartnershipProjects?

Have a question? Or are you ready to start?

For Individual Professionals within Schools looking to join PP Training:

    For Group Bookings for Schools:

    Book a FREE Consultation to explore the implementation of NVR within your School.