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Dr Steve McNichol

Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Institute of Education (NIE)

Staff Group(s)
Primary Teacher Education

Role

Dr Steve McNichol is a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education and is the course leader for the primary-phase Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). He teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, focusing on behaviour/classroom management, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and physical education (PE).

Career overview

Steve joined NTU in 2025 after ten years working in initial teacher education at another university in the East Midlands.

Before working in teacher education, Steve was a primary school teacher. During this time, he taught throughout the primary age range and developed specialisms in behaviour/classroom management and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

As well as holding leadership positions such as the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and Deputy Headteacher, Steve undertook the role of a lead behaviour teacher in three schools and within the local authority, providing training and professional development in this area for teachers and school leaders and also supporting schools to improve pupils’ behaviour.

Research areas

Steve’s Master’s in Education research focused on the behaviour management of pupils in primary schools, exploring strategies to improve pupil behaviour during breaktimes and lunchtimes.

Steve’s Doctorate in Education research focused on understanding the role and place of mid-day supervisors in primary schools. His study adopted an ethnographic approach to exploring the experience of undertaking the role of a mid-day supervisor and how this can be legitimised as a valuable role within the school community.

Steve’s current research projects focus on the development of trainee teachers’ behaviour/classroom management skills, the role of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) in schools and projects relating to breaktimes in schools, such as the impact of Outdoor Play and Learning (OPaL) on pupils’ behaviour.

External activity

Steve leads the national Behaviour Management in Initial Teacher Training Network, supporting teacher-educators to develop trainees’ behaviour management skills by providing regular updates on policy and practice, research, and new resources to support this aspect of teacher training.

Steve is also a governor at a local secondary school and was previously the Chair of Governors at a primary school within Nottinghamshire.

Publications

McNichol, S. (2024) Using role-play to develop the confidence of primary-phase trainee teachers to manage low-level disruptive behaviour in the classroom. Research in Teacher Education. 14(1) pp 18-24.

McNichol, S. (2023) Mid-day supervisors in English primary schools: A role theory perspective. Education 3-13. DOI: 10.1080/03004279.2023.2169585

McNichol, S. (2022) Book review: Supporting the emotional well-being of children and young people with learning disabilities: A whole school approach. British Journal of Special Education. 49 (4) pp. 683-684.

McNichol, S. (2021) Book review: What really works in special and inclusive education: Using Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies. Support for Learning. 36(2) pp. 316-317.

Clarke, E. & McNichol, S. (2020) Behaviour IN Paige, R., Lambert, S. & Paige, R. (eds) (2020)Building Skills for Effective Primary Teaching (2nd Ed). London: SAGE.

McNichol, S. (2019) Behaviour Management and Autism IN Lawrence (ed) (2019) Teacher training and autism – a research-based handbook. London: Jessica Kinsley.

Clarke, E. & McNichol, S. (2017) Behaviour IN Paige, R., Lambert, S. & Paige, R. (eds) (2017)Building Skills for Effective Primary Teaching. London: SAGE.

McNichol, S. (2017) Behaviour in Focus – The Effective use of Sanctions. Inclusive Behaviour Magazine – September 2017.Shropshire: Creative Inclusive Ltd.

McNichol, S. (2017) Behaviour in Focus – Using Effective Rewards. Inclusive Behaviour Magazine – June 2017.Shropshire: Creative Inclusive Ltd.

McNichol, S. (2017) Behaviour in Focus – Creating Effective Rules and Procedures. Inclusive Behaviour Magazine – February 2017. Shropshire: Creative Inclusive Ltd.

McNichol, S. (2016) Behaviour in Focus – Over-talk and ‘Secret Students’. Inclusive Behaviour Magazine – June 2016.Shropshire: Creative Inclusive Ltd.

McNichol, S. (2016) Behaviour in Focus – Causes of Challenging Behaviour. Inclusive Behaviour Magazine – February 2016.Shropshire: Creative Inclusive Ltd.

McNichol, S. (2016) No Penalties. Report Magazine. London: Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Course(s) I teach on