Anagh Coar Primary School Behaviour Policy
UNCRC:
Article 12: Children have the right to give their opinion and for adults to listen to it and take it seriously.
Article 19: Children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.
Article 29: Education should help you to learn to respect other people.
Article 37: Children should not be punished in cruel or hurtful ways.
Rationale
We will establish a positive and supportive environment for learning in all our classrooms. Our school will reflect the regard with which we hold learning and our learners. We will enable pupils to feel positive about themselves, respect each other and encourage safe protocols within our school.
Our pupils are entitled to an ordered environment which encourages them to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to exercise self-discipline. Our pupils are also entitled to a consistent approach to behaviour management so that, as they move from one class to another, they are secure and confident in the standard of behaviour required and do not have to waste time learning a different set of rules. As they move around the school they know that each member of the staff will expect the same high standards of behaviour at all times. Pupils should apply themselves diligently to their learning and, through consideration and courtesy, ensure that other pupils are not distracted or hindered.
The Home/School agreement clearly sets out each party’s rights and responsibilities. These Agreements will be sent home at the beginning of each academic year for signing.
Aims
To promote high standards of behaviour in school at all times.
To encourage the pupils of Anagh Coar Primary School to develop excellent manners, tolerance and understanding towards their own needs and the needs of others.
To have a consistent approach to behaviour management with all pupils by all staff.
To develop strategies for positive behaviour in all of our pupils.
To model fairness and consistency at all times.
To discuss and encourage the pupils to be reflective in their understanding of “good” behaviour.
Guidelines
We do not “put down” pupils, nor do we allow them to “put-down” other pupils.
We start each day in a positive manner. Greeting each child by name as they enter the classroom makes the opening interaction positive.
We separate the behaviours from the child. Labels can be attached to the behaviour but not to the child.
We set time/positive deadlines e.g. “ Simon, when you have had a minute to think about this come back” or “ I know you are feeling cross – take some time out and in five minutes I’ll come back to you”
All members of staff will lead by example showing the children clearly how they in turn should interact with each other.
When responding to inappropriate language or behaviour, staff will use a calm manner and state the desired behaviour.
We let the pupils practise the behaviours we want.
We teach techniques for anger management. We need to teach pupils how to defer an impulsive response by internalising their thoughts e.g. Thinking that they are away from the situation thus allowing themselves time to calm down.
We use our pupils’ names – placing the name at the beginning of the question not at the end – let the child cue in.
So that a high standard of behaviour can be maintained, staff should address the following issues:
Members of Staff are visible when the pupils are moving around school – especially in areas such as the cloakrooms etc.
We praise good behaviour in all pupils not just those in our class.
We actively look for positive behaviours so that they can be praised.
We have well-organised, tidy classrooms, where equipment is well looked after.
We remind pupils about the positive way in which they behave in school.
We speak calmly and rationally to our pupils.
We remember that pupils have a well-developed sense of fair play - listen to both sides of the story and, where applicable, ask other pupils who were present for their view of the incident.
We use the agreed sanctions for dealing with behaviour problems.
Only involve the Headteacher immediately if the incident is serious.
We use the Headteacher as a reward for positive behaviour.
We will talk to parents if a pupil’s behaviour causes concern.
If there fails to be an improvement then the parents will be seen by the Headteacher or the Deputy, either after a red card has been issued (KS2) or when classroom measures have failed (KS1/FS).
In KS1/FS a system of home/school logs can be set up after consultation with the parents - such log books should be used for positive comments as well as reporting undesirable behaviours - in KS2 the merit books will serve to share information with parents.
Rewards
The school system of certificates (and in KS2 the merit system) is there to reward pupils for consistently good behaviour, sustained effort and high achievement.
Between 2 and 5 certificates per class are given out during the Friday Celebration Assembly.
Individual classes may also have their own system of rewards.
Positive praise should also be used as a reward.
It is expected that pupils will show examples of good learning to other members of staff including the Headteacher where certificates or other rewards will be given.
Stickers and other positive comments on children’s learning are used to reinforce expected standards.
The Merit Book System (KS2)
Merits will be awarded for good learning, behaviour or setting a good example.
Pupils will have the opportunity to earn 4 merits each day for trying hard and having good behaviour: one for each taught session.
Teachers may award extra merits for outstanding learning or effort which will be recorded on the whiteboard in the merit box. These will be included in the child’s weekly total kept by teachers and shared with parents through the merit book.
Sanctions
If a pupil misbehaves:
A verbal warning will be given.
If misbehaviour happens again his/her name will be recorded on the whiteboard in the ‘Issues’ box and the pupil will speak to the teacher about their behaviour at the end of the session. This will be added to a weekly total of issues in the merit book and shared with parents.
If misbehaviour is repeated a yellow card will be issued and marked with a Y next to their name on the whiteboard. This means the pupil will miss 5 minutes of playtime in the Time Out box on the yard. The teacher will record this as 2 issues.
If misbehaviour is repeated a second Y will be recorded next to the pupil’s name to signify that a second yellow card has been issues and that the pupil will miss 10 minutes of playtime and fill in a behaviour sheet which helps him/her to reflect on his/her behaviour. The teacher will record this as 3 issues in the merit book.
If misbehaviour continues a red card will be issued and a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will be sent for. They may contact the parents with details of their behaviour or issue the child with a weekly target sheet detailing which element of their behaviour s/he needs to think about and improve over the following week.
If there is regular misbehaviour the pupil will be placed on longer term behaviour targets on a special needs Individual Education Plan (IEP); this will happen following a meeting with parents to discuss these issues.
Pupils who go on to improve their behaviour may have previous issues wiped off the board (not a Red Card). If his/her name remains on the board at the end of the lesson no merit will be earned for that session.
Some behaviours are unacceptable in the classroom, as they put others at risk, and may require instant red cards to be given - or in FS/KS1, parents to be notified immediately by a member of the SLT; the list below details what Anagh Coar Staff deem to be unacceptable:
hurting another pupil
swearing at others / using negative language
throwing items around the classroom
pulling faces at or back chatting to a member of staff in a disrespectful manner
moving around the school in a way that could harm others (running in corridors, pushing on steps etc.)
Where behaviour is not appropriate within lessons a pupil may be sent (with a learning task to be completed) to another class.
Should behaviour at lunchtimes be a significant problem a pupil can be asked, after due notice, to leave the school premises over the lunchtime period.
The ultimate sanction is temporary or in severe cases, permanent suspension from the school. These sanctions are there, with the support of the DEC and the School Governing Body to support the work of the Staff at the school. A Behaviour Plan will be drawn up relating specifically to the pupil on his/her return to school which will be signed by all parties.
Missing an activity i.e. Sport/Swimming/ICT is not to be used as a sanction. ALL pupils are entitled to the full curriculum. A missed session will only occur when Health and Safety are compromised.
Updated: September 2016 Next Review: September 2017