Free Video: Samantha Dholakia on The Behaviour Balance System

Samantha Dholakia is a Behaviour, Emotional Regulation and Inclusion Trainer, Consultant and creator of The Behaviour Balance System™.

With nearly 20 years’ experience across education and childcare, from Early Years through to secondary, Samantha has worked as a Nursery Nurse, Teacher, Head of EYFS, Head of KS1, Deputy Headteacher, Literacy Consultant and Behaviour Specialist.

The Behaviour Balance System™ is a neuroscience-led, trauma-informed and neuroaffirming approach that helps educators and families move beyond simply managing behaviour to understanding what sits beneath it and teaching the skills children need to navigate behaviour, emotions and everyday expectations.

Samantha works with schools, nurseries and families through training, consultancy and The Behaviour Bank™ – an online platform providing practical training, tools and resources to support behaviour, emotional regulation, inclusion and wellbeing.

In this episode, Samantha explains why traditional strategies like time-outs and reward charts can work against what we’re trying to achieve, and introduces her Behaviour-Balance System, a collaborative, evidence-based approach that teaches behaviour as a skill rather than something to be controlled. She explores how checking our own belief systems, involving parents as genuine partners, and understanding the neuroscience behind behaviour can transform how we support children through big feelings.

In this episode you’ll:

Discover why time-outs and reward charts can be counterproductive, and what the evidence actually shows
Learn how to teach behaviour as a skill, breaking it down step by step like reading or maths
Understand what the “road to regulation” is, and why emotions are described as fuel for the journey
Find out why checking your own belief systems matters more than you might think
Explore how to build genuine collaboration with parents, including families who are hardest to reach

Watch the full interview to discover a collaborative, evidence-based approach to behaviour that respects children’s development and works in busy early years settings.