Calm Plan
- Supporting
Dysregulation

Designed for parents, educators and multi-agency professionals, this Calm Plan provides a practical, safety-led framework to proactively support PDA children during moments of emotional dysregulation.

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Created to prevent crisis escalation and reduce overwhelm for both the child and the adults involved, it ensures everyone knows their role — before, during and after a dysregulation event.

 

This downloadable is suitable for both home and educational settings and can be printed as a wall poster, kept in planning folders, shared between caregivers or embedded into EHCP/support documents.

 

What’s Included:

 

A structured, fillable Calm Plan with clear space to outline:

• Environment setup and safety preparation (e.g. layout, safe items, sensory-ready space)

• Which adult takes the lead with the PDA child, and who supports siblings/peers

• The designated safe space or exit pathway for the child to retreat to if needed

• What support the child accepts or rejects (e.g. proximity, silence, humour, sensory tools)

• Emergency contact details — usable for both home and school settings

• Planning around staff/caregiver recovery time afterwards — and who steps in while they do

• Gentle, respectful language focused on safety, regulation and autonomy

 

Who It’s For:

• Parents and carers supporting PDA or highly demand-avoidant children

• Schools and Early Years settings who need a clear, trauma-informed plan

• SENCOs, EPs, and professionals creating or reviewing EHCP provision

• Multi-agency teams needing a shared, proactive response strategy

• Anyone seeking to replace crisis behaviour plans with connection-first ones

 

Why It Matters:

PDA dysregulation can escalate fast — and in high-anxiety states, children are not in conscious control. Having a pre-agreed plan in place protects safety, prevents panic, and stops adults from defaulting to reactive crisis responses.

A Calm Plan reduces demands, increases autonomy, and preserves trust — while helping teams or families stay attuned and coordinated in the moments that matter most.