School Behaviour Policy
Aims
To provide guidance on the promotion of positive behaviour management among pupils, and between pupils and adults.
To help teachers and parents communicate and work together effectively, to surround the children with clear, consistent boundaries out of loving authority.
To enable children to develop appropriate social skills and mutual respect for each other, adults and the natural world around them.
To create an environment where effective teaching and learning may take place.
All School Behaviour Values
In our school we strive to uphold the following values in our behaviour:
1. We come to school to work and learn
We try to do the right thing at the right time.
We try hard to do our best work.
We learn from our mistakes.
We listen to our teachers and treat them with respect.
Out of mutual respect we all, parents, pupils and teachers:
listen and learn from each other.
respect and value each other's differences.
use words to resolve our problems.
are fair and kind to each other.
2. We work together to make our school a safe and happy place.
We are thankful for what we have.
We treat all things with care.
We take turns and share.
We help each other to feel safe and well cared for.
The purpose of these values is to help us all to remember the ways in which we need to behave in order to make our school the safe and happy place that we want it to be, and as adults we work together with persistent consistency!
The repetitive reinforcement of these values guides a child's behaviour within clear, consistent boundaries. The rhythmic use of repetition strengthens the will and builds an inner sense of security.
The Guidance Committee
It is the responsibility of the Guidance Committee to ensure that all members of our school uphold the All School Behaviour Values.
Any child who gives cause for concern will be expected to attend an interview with the Guidance Committee to reassess their commitment to our behaviour values.
Ultimately, the Guidance Committee may make the decision to exclude a person from our school.
The Guidance Committee is formed by two permanent members, the child's Class Teacher and the teacher concerned (if different).
Parent-Teacher Communication
Each child will be given a home-school Book.
Teachers will use this book on occasions when they notice something particular about the child's work or behaviour. This could be excellent work, a kind deed, a concern, an accident or or an act of inappropriate behaviour.
Parents should use this book to record anything that needs to be communicated from home, including reasons fro absence, an event in the family, a slight illness etc.
Older children may also use this book for a homework diary.
The class teacher will review the children's home-school books on a weekly basis.
It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that the home-school book is kept safe and brought to school every day.
Procedures for addressing inappropriate behaviour
Stage 1: Remembering
The teacher verbalises what the child has done or reminds them in some way.
The child is asked whether their behaviour is helping us to uphold those values and guided to think of a way in which they can remember to do this in future.
Stage 2: Rethinking
A child is asked to leave the classroom (or playground) to think about how they can do better to uphold our values in the future. the child is asked to return when they are ready to do this. The teacher should ensure that the child returns to the classroom within five minutes.
At this point they should explain what they have decided to do in future and show by their behaviour that they are working to achieve this.
A note of this will be made in the child's home school book.
If the child continues to be disruptive they will be sent to the staff room with a Quiet Room note and be supervised by a member of staff for the duration of the lesson from which they have been excluded.
Stage 3: Reinforcing
A child will be given a reflection form to fill in at home.
The teacher will briefly explain in the home-school book the reasons for this assignment.
Parents need to sign the note in the home-school book and ensure that the work is returned to the child's class teacher on the following school day.
Stage 4: Reframing
Should a child be asked to complete three such reflection forms in a term their class teacher will arrange for them to attend a late lesson at 3.00 on the designated day.
This lesson will focus on helping the child to understand the importance of our behaviour values. It may also include performing a task that is appropriate to make amends for what has been done wrong.
Parents will be informed of this appointment at least 48 hours in advance via a note that will be placed in the child's home-school book. They should sign and return this note on the following school day.
Pupils may be required to attend the Late Lesson as a consequence of a specific breach of the school's Behaviour Values.
Parents will need to arrange to collect their child at 4.00pm promptly.
Stage 5: Guidance Committee Interview
If a child has attended one lesson and yet the same behaviour pattern recurs, the class teacher will arrange for the child and their parent to attend an interview with the guidance committee.
Following this interview, two weeks will be given for the child to demonstrate their renewed commitment to our behaviour values.
Stage 6: Restricted Exclusion
If by this stage the child's behaviour has not shown significant signs of change the guidance committee will contact the parents to ask the child to be kept at home for a period of 1 – 3 days.
During this time parents should spend time with their child, reviewing their home-school book on a daily basis.
Following the child's return to school their behaviour will once agin be closely monitored and recorded by all teachers in their home school book for a two week period.
Stage 7: Temporary Exclusion
If the guidance committee is still not satisfied that the child has overcome their inappropriate behaviour pattern, they will ask for the child to be kept at home until such time that the parents and child are ready to offer a full commitment to uphold the all school behaviour values.
At this stage the child only returns to school on the condition that they behave appropriately at all times.
Should any instance of inappropriate behaviour occur a parent should be available to collect their child from school immediately and keep them at home until they can make a further commitment.
Stage 8: Permanent Exclusion
If the child's behaviour continues to demonstrate that they are not able to commit to uphold the all school behaviour values, the guidance committee will meet with the parents of the child to discuss whether the child's needs can continue to be met at our school.
In such cases, the impact of the child's behaviour on the rest of the class must be given due consideration.
The guidance committee may decide to exclude the child permanently from the school.
Serious Incidents
Any deliberate act of threatening or violent behaviour, abusive language or malicious damage to property is totally inconsistent with our behaviour values and will be addressed immediately at stage 5 of the above procedures (or even stage 6).
If a child completely refuses to co-operate with a teacher or supervisor in such a way that they are causing a total disruption to teaching and learning; or if they are threatening the safety of other pupils or themselves, it may be necessary to contact a parent, or emergency contact to remove them from the school premises. Such and incident will be addressed at Stage 5 of the above procedures.