Behaviour Policy
The basis for our Behaviour policy is the school mission statement:
‘Achievement for Everyone’.
At Croft C of E primary school we aim to achieve this by fostering a caring and co-operative attitude within our inclusive school community.
This policy was prepared after consultation with members of the LA Pupil and Parent Services unit, teachers, staff, governors, pupils and parents.
Our aims are:
- To create a disciplined yet caring environment, where children feel valued and secure
- To teach children to make appropriate and responsible choices in their behaviour
- To instil in children a sense of wonder about their world
- To offer children a broad, balanced curriculum through stimulating and challenging experiences
- To encourage and acknowledge individual achievement
- To encourage children to realise their own potential and to develop a sense of worth
- To encourage children to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges presented by a rapidly changing world
This policy provides a clear, consistent structure within which pupils, governors, parents and staff work together to encourage, and expect, good standards of behaviour. These are based on shared values, supported by a system of rewards and, where necessary, consequences within the context of a positive community atmosphere. Bullying of any sort will not be tolerated.
We aim to provide a consistent and positive whole - school approach to behaviour using a system of rewards as follows:
- Words of praise and/or encouragement
- In Reception and Class 2, stickers for appropriate behaviour, effort and achievement. In Class 1, these build into a chart of 10
- In classes 2, 3 and 4, house points for all appropriate behaviour, effort and achievement
- When a child has 5 house points they receive a Merit, and a certificate is awarded for 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Merits
- Classes have a 'worker of the day' and classes 2, 3 and 4 have their own individual reward system in addition eg class 2, golden nuggets
- Individual 'behaviour charts/diaries' are used to modify inappropriate behaviour whenever necessary
- A special 'Celebration Worship is held on Friday, when children's effort, appropriate behaviour and achievement are shared with the rest of the school
- Each week, the lunchtime staff choose a child from each class to sit on the 'Golden Table' on Friday lunchtime, as a reward for good lunchtime behaviour. Each child selects a friend to join them
The school rules have been devised by the children and are as follows:
- Take care of each other and our school.
- Be polite to everyone in school.
- Always work quietly and try your best.
- Be well behaved and act sensibly and safely.
If a child breaks the school rules, these are the consequences:
- A stern word or restatement of the rules.
- After 2 warnings, pupils write in the Behaviour Book in their classroom. They record what they were doing and why they were sent there.
- If a child persists in distracting others and prevents effective learning, they will be sent to another classroom and will follow the procedure of 5 minutes isolation and writing in the class behaviour book. (Class 2 to Class 3, Class 3 to Class 4, and Class 4 to Class 3). These books form effective daily and long term records of behaviour which will be monitored by the class teachers and Head.
- A child may be kept in at playtime to finish work or temporarily to remove them from a difficult situation.
- If a child's name appears in a book three times in a week, the parents will be informed as soon as possible of the unacceptable behaviour and the child will be asked to draw up an agreement with the teacher about work or behaviour. The class teacher will keep a detailed daily behaviour monitoring sheet.
- If the agreement is not kept, parents will again be contacted either by telephone or letter to arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss the problem and establish a plan of action. This may include the maintenance of a home/school record book, and with permission, the enlistment of specialist help. Above all, parents will be involved at all stages to support and assist a constructive solution.
- At lunch times, if a child behaves inappropriately, the MSA on duty will enter the child's name and a brief description of the behaviour in a record book. This is kept in the staffroom. The Headteacher will monitor this weekly and the above course of action will be followed if necessary.
- As a last resort if a child continues to break the school rules and causes problems for other children or if an assault or severe incident has occurred then exclusion will follow. Depending upon the severity of the incident this may be permanent. The NYCC guidelines for exclusion will be followed.
To maintain confidentiality, the outcomes of disciplinary procedures will not be divulged to parties other than those directly involved.
MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
1. Each member of staff has a responsibility to keep under review the practical operation of the Management of Behaviour Policy, paying particular attention to:-
- His or her own level of expertise or need for training.
- The actual behaviour of individuals or groups of children.
- The ways in which the school environment affects children's behaviour.
- Any behavioural effects resulting from the use or lack of particular equipment or resources.
- The implications for the management of behaviour which arise from the implementation of curriculum policies.
- The practical effects of the implementation of the school's policy for the Management of Behaviour and their accordance / non-accordance with the stated aims of the policy.
2. Records will be kept to chart appropriate behaviour, with the giving of class rewards, merit certificates, special award letters home etc.
Behaviour which gives cause for concern will be dealt with as detailed above.
3. Persistently bad behaviour may be a result of children having emotional, psychological or neurological disturbance, or it may be a response to their own learning difficulties. These children may not respond to the normal range of rewards and consequences and may need a particular programme to help them modify their behaviour, accompanied by personalised rewards and sanctions. These can be drawn up and contracted in conjunction with the child, parents and staff. The class teacher must keep a careful record of any incidents and actions which are inappropriate as the help of other professionals, such as Educational Psychologists, may need to be sought and clear information is essential for accurate diagnosis and the provision of additional support. (See Policy for Special Educational Needs). Croft C of E Primary School will make every attempt to minimise disruption to the education of other children, ensuring the safety of all.
4. Positive feedback will be given to parents at the end of a school day.
5. The Management of Behaviour Policy will be achieved by the provision of criteria for success. These will be measured against the aims set out in this policy and evidence will be gained through observation of pupils' behaviour as to the level of success of this policy and those areas needing review.
Evidence will be based on:-
- The extent to which the children demonstrate good habits of work or behaviour
- The degrees of self-discipline and mutual support they practise
- Their self-confidence e.g. showing around visitors or helping younger children
- The standards of courtesy displayed to one another, staff and visitors
- Their behaviour towards all staff, teaching and non-teaching
- Any tension between ethnic groups
- Effects of behaviour on the quality of learning and the overall work of the school as a community
- Aggressive and anti-social behaviour and bullying
THE USE OF FORCE TO CONTROL OR RESTRAIN PUPILS
Please see the separate policy and LA Guidelines 2008
ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON BULLYING IN SCHOOL
We believe that the definition of bullying is any repeated act that causes another child to be unhappy. We have an anti-bullying charter.
ALL REPORTS OF BULLYING ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
- Parents of the children involved will be contacted personally as soon as possible.
- An action plan will be drawn up involving the child, parents, special needs co-ordinator and teachers and in certain situations other children acting as mentors / special 'buddies' such as the School Councillors.
- Consequences will follow as detailed before.
- All members of staff will be informed and will monitor and supervise the situation. A record of incidents of bullying will be kept.
- Regular contact will be maintained with all parties until the situation is resolved.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT BULLYING IN SCHOOL
Every opportunity will be taken to highlight the implications of bullying to the children and they will be actively encouraged to report such instances to a member of staff. Regular opportunities exist within the school curriculum for teaching about the consequences of bullying for the victim and person bullying. These include circle time and class worship on Wednesdays, collective worship specifically targeting behaviour and bullying eg 'Living and Working Together' and RE and PSHCE lessons where themes such as responsibility, sadness etc are discussed. We also hold specific workshops eg Schools Forum Theatre and Extended Schools 'Inter Faith Project' which teach through drama and role play, about the ways in which we should talk to each other, listen and respect others' points of view. SEAL materials have been incorporated into our Collective Worship and teaching plans, including Circle Time.
Certain locations within the school and the school grounds have been highlighted as areas where potential bullying could take place. In these places, children are closely supervised. In congested areas, such as the cloakroom, year groups are admitted in staggered fashion so that younger children do not feel overwhelmed and are supervised by Year 6 helpers and staff.
The use of playground equipment, playing of sports and role play games is encouraged to promote positive use of personal time and children have clear guidelines on acceptable behaviour eg. Wait your turn, do not push or move someone out of the way. At lunchtimes, a play co-ordinator organises a rota of structured games to include all children. A Buddy Bench is situated in the playground where a child can sit if feeling lonely and staff and School Councillors can then encourage others to include that child in their games.
This policy was first written in October 1998 and has been reviewed annually.
June 2009.