Post Incident Learning App

Q: Can the PIL app be customised?

Yes, PIL is fully customisable to individual communication needs, ensuring accessibility and effectiveness across different users.

Q: How does PIL support behaviour planning?

Insights from the PIL process feed directly into Smart Plans and Risk Assessments, ensuring that behaviour support strategies are updated in real time based on individual reflection and data.

Q: Can staff use PIL to adjust their interventions?

Yes, PIL provides structured guidance, enabling staff to suggest effective interventions for low, medium, and high-level behaviours, enhancing both individual and systemic support.

Empowering Students and Service Users to Reflect, Learn, and Reduce Behaviour Incidents

The Behaviour Smart Post Incident Learning (PIL) app is included with all Behaviour Smart packages and is designed for students, young people, and service users to use following an incident. The app supports the completion of the post-incident learning section of Behaviour Smart and is based on research to teach individuals how to control their own behaviour.

The simplicity of PIL means it can be used independently or with support, and it can be personalised to the individual’s communication needs. PIL uses tried and tested theoretical approaches, focusing on three simple steps to effective post-incident analysis: experiences, feelings, and behaviours - developing a proactive approach to behaviour management.

The implementation of the PIL app in a mainstream secondary school resulted in a 64.5% reduction in behaviour incidents.

Empowering Students and Service Users to Reflect, Learn, and Reduce Behaviour Incidents

The Behaviour Smart Post Incident Learning (PIL) app is included with all Behaviour Smart packages and is designed for students, young people, and service users to use following an incident. The app supports the completion of the post-incident learning section of Behaviour Smart and is based on research to teach individuals how to control their own behaviour.

The simplicity of PIL means it can be used independently or with support, and it can be personalised to the individual’s communication needs. PIL uses tried and tested theoretical approaches, focusing on three simple steps to effective post-incident analysis: experiences, feelings, and behaviours—developing a proactive approach to behaviour management.

The implementation of the PIL app in a mainstream secondary school resulted in a 64.5% reduction in behaviour incidents.

What are the benefits of Post Incident Learning?

Behavioural improvement and self-regulation.

The Post-Incident Learning (PIL) process helps students and service users reflect on behaviour, understand triggers and consequences, and build self-regulation skills using evidence-based methods - supporting lasting behaviour change.

Reduction in Behavioural Incidents

By addressing the root causes of incidents and promoting learning from them, PIL has been shown to reduce behavioural incidents by up to 65% within three months. This makes it an effective tool for creating safer and more supportive environments.

Customisation for Individual Needs

The PIL process can be tailored to meet individual communication needs, ensuring that it is accessible and effective for all users, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

Empowering Independence

The PIL app offered by Behaviour Smart allows users to complete the post-incident learning process independently or with support. This flexibility empowers individuals to take ownership of their learning and behaviour management journey.

Integration with Behaviour Plans

Insights gained from the PIL process are automatically integrated into Smart Plans and Risk Assessments, ensuring that behaviour management strategies are continuously updated and personalised based on real-time data

Support for Staff and Students

PIL provides structured guidance for staff to suggest strategies and interventions for managing behaviour. This includes responses to low, medium, and high-level behaviours, enhancing the overall support system for both staff and students.

What are the benefits of Post Incident Learning?

Behavioural improvement and self-regulation.

The Post-Incident Learning (PIL) process helps students and service users reflect on behaviour, understand triggers and consequences, and build self-regulation skills using evidence-based methods—supporting lasting behaviour change.

Reduction in Behavioural Incidents

By addressing the root causes of incidents and promoting learning from them, PIL has been shown to reduce behavioural incidents by up to 65% within three months. This makes it an effective tool for creating safer and more supportive environments.

Customisation for Individual Needs

The PIL process can be tailored to meet individual communication needs, ensuring that it is accessible and effective for all users, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

Empowering Independence

The PIL app offered by Behaviour Smart allows users to complete the post-incident learning process independently or with support. This flexibility empowers individuals to take ownership of their learning and behaviour management journey.

Integration with Behaviour Plans

Insights gained from the PIL process are automatically integrated into Smart Plans and Risk Assessments, ensuring that behaviour management strategies are continuously updated and personalised based on real-time data

Support for Staff and Students

PIL provides structured guidance for staff to suggest strategies and interventions for managing behaviour. This includes responses to low, medium, and high-level behaviours, enhancing the overall support system for both staff and students.

Download the App Now!

Download the Behaviour Smart App

Take behaviour tracking and analysis with you—wherever you are. The Behaviour Smart mobile app makes it easy to record incidents, review behaviour plans, and access real-time insights from the classroom, playground, or care setting.

Instant behaviour logging
Access personalised plans on the go
Receive smart alerts and insights in real time

Download the Behaviour Smart App

Take behaviour tracking and analysis with you wherever you are. The Behaviour Smart mobile app makes it easy to record incidents, review behaviour plans, and access real-time insights from the classroom, playground, or care setting.

Instant behaviour logging
Access personalised plans on the go
Receive smart alerts and insights in real time

Download the App Now!

Behaviour Research That Drives Real Change

At Behaviour Smart, our approach is grounded in lived experience and academic research. After any incident, it’s critical that both the student and the adult are given the chance to reflect — so everyone can move forward together. This core belief powers our Post Incident Learning (PIL) approach: a structured, trauma-informed method that turns incidents into meaningful learning opportunities.

🎙️Explore Dean Cotton’s Behaviour Research
Behaviour Smart founder Dean Cotton has spent over 25 years working in and with special schools, SEMH provisions, and care settings. His research, training, and insights into behaviour management are helping transform how incidents are handled across the UK.

Read Dean's Published Research on PIL and Behaviour Support

View To Learn MoreDean Cotton’s academic papers and research

Behaviour Research That Drives Real Change

At Behaviour Smart, our approach is grounded in lived experience and academic research. After any incident, it’s critical that both the student and the adult are given the chance to reflect — so everyone can move forward together. This core belief powers our Post Incident Learning (PIL) approach: a structured, trauma-informed method that turns incidents into meaningful learning opportunities.

🎙️Explore Dean Cotton’s Behaviour Research
Behaviour Smart founder Dean Cotton has spent over 25 years working in and with special schools, SEMH provisions, and care settings. His research, training, and insights into behaviour management are helping transform how incidents are handled across the UK.

Read Dean's Published Research on PIL and Behaviour Support

View To Learn MoreDean Cotton’s academic papers and research

How Post-Incident Learning Creates Lasting Behaviour Change

Post-Incident Learning (PIL) isn’t just about reflection—it’s a powerful tool for creating meaningful, lasting behavioural change in schools, care settings, and therapeutic environments. By fostering accountability, emotional regulation, and proactive behaviour planning, PIL helps individuals build resilience and supports a culture of continuous improvement.

When embedded into daily practice, PIL empowers staff and students alike—shifting the focus from reactive measures to long-term, person-centred behaviour support.

What’s Your Approach to Behaviour Management?

Real behaviour change doesn’t come from punishment — it comes from reflection and understanding. After any incident in school, opportunities to reflect — for both the pupil and the adult — must be given so that everyone can move forward together.

That’s the foundation of Post Incident Learning (PIL), a research-based approach developed by Behaviour Smart founder Dean Cotton. In Episode 115 of the School Behaviour Secrets Podcast by Beacon School Support, Dean shares how to break negative behaviour cycles and embed meaningful, trauma-informed reflection into your school’s behaviour strategy.

Hear Dean Cotton explain the power of reflection in Post Incident Learning

Post Incident LearningLearn How to Break Behaviour Cycles

How Post-Incident Learning Creates Lasting Behaviour Change

Post-Incident Learning (PIL) isn’t just about reflection—it’s a powerful tool for creating meaningful, lasting behavioural change in schools, care settings, and therapeutic environments. By fostering accountability, emotional regulation, and proactive behaviour planning, PIL helps individuals build resilience and supports a culture of continuous improvement.

When embedded into daily practice, PIL empowers staff and students alike—shifting the focus from reactive measures to long-term, person-centred behaviour support.

What’s Your Approach to Behaviour Management?

Real behaviour change doesn’t come from punishment — it comes from reflection and understanding. After any incident in school, opportunities to reflect — for both the pupil and the adult — must be given so that everyone can move forward together.

That’s the foundation of Post Incident Learning (PIL), a research-based approach developed by Behaviour Smart founder Dean Cotton. In Episode 115 of the School Behaviour Secrets Podcast by Beacon School Support, Dean shares how to break negative behaviour cycles and embed meaningful, trauma-informed reflection into your school’s behaviour strategy.

Hear Dean Cotton explain the power of reflection in Post Incident Learning

How to Break Behaviour Cycles with Post Incident Learning

What’s Your Approach to Behaviour Management?

Real behaviour change doesn’t come from punishment, it comes from reflection and understanding. After any incident in school, opportunities to reflect for both the pupil and the adult must be given so that everyone can move forward together.

That’s the foundation of Post Incident Learning (PIL), a research-based approach developed by Behaviour Smart founder

Dean Cotton.

In Episode 115 of the School Behaviour Secrets Podcast by Beacon School Support, Dean shares how to break negative behaviour cycles and embed meaningful, trauma-informed reflection into your school’s behaviour strategy.

Hear Dean Cotton explain the power of reflection in Post Incident Learning

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Post-Incident Learning (PIL) app?

The PIL app is a free, research-based tool included in all Behaviour Smart packages. It helps students, young people, and service users complete the post-incident learning process - whether independently or with support—by focusing on experiences, feelings, and behaviours.

Who can use the PIL app?

The app is designed for students, young people, and service users. It is fully personalised to meet individual communication needs and can be used with or without adult support.

Why is PIL effective?

The app employs a simple three-step reflective framework—exploring experiences, feelings, and behaviours - which is grounded in research. This structured approach has led to reductions in behavioural incidents of up to 65% in mainstream secondary schools.

Can the PIL app be customised?

Yes! PIL is fully customisable to individual communication needs, ensuring accessibility and effectiveness across different users.

How does PIL support behaviour planning?

Insights from the PIL process feed directly into Smart Plans and Risk Assessments, ensuring that behaviour support strategies are updated in real time based on individual reflection and data.

Can staff use PIL to adjust their interventions?

Yes! PIL provides structured guidance, enabling staff to suggest effective interventions for low, medium, and high-level behaviours, enhancing both individual and systemic support.