Behaviour incident log template
A behaviour incident log keeps a clean, factual, dated record: what happened, what came just before, what you did, how it ended and who you told. Written the same day and without opinion, it shows patterns, supports conversations with parents and the SENCo, and protects you if an incident is questioned later.
A4 PDF · part of the free Calm Classroom pack · print as many as you need
How to use it
Write what you saw and heard, not what you think it meant. ‘Threw the chair towards the window’ is a record; ‘kicked off again’ is not.
Look back over a few weeks of entries before a meeting. Times of day, lessons and triggers often show up only across several records.
What’s on it · Primary
Plain, dated, factual. Write what happened, not what you think it meant. If a concern goes further, this is what holds. One line per incident. Keep it where it belongs under your school's record-keeping.
Facts, not feelings. 'Threw a chair, it hit the wall' holds. 'Was being aggressive and difficult' doesn't.
| Date & time | Pupil | What happened (facts, not interpretation) | Trigger / before | My response | Outcome / who told |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
If anything in here touches a child's welfare or safety, it's no longer just a behaviour note. See Tool 4.
What’s on it · Secondary
A clean, factual, dated record
If a sanction gets challenged or a concern grows, this is what defends it. Facts, not feelings. Write what was said and done, not what you assumed. Fill a row as soon after the lesson as you can, while it's accurate. Keep it dry enough that a parent, your head of year, or a panel could read it.
| Date / time | Student | Class / period | What happened (facts only) | Trigger / context | Sanction or response | Reported to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Write quotes where you can. 'Student said: "make me"' is a fact. 'Student was aggressive' is a judgement someone can argue with. And date and time every entry: an undated note is hard to rely on later.
Record the sanction against your school's behaviour policy, which is a legal requirement your school must have in place. If you used any physical intervention, that has its own recording route. ⚖ Check your school's policy and current statutory guidance.
If in doubt, record. Written, dated, factual. A short note made on the day is worth more than a clear memory three weeks on.