Behaviour Policy ( updated - awaiting parent responses)

 

                                  APPLETON WISKE COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

BEHAVIOUR POLICY 

 

 

Introduction

 

Beliefs and Expectations

 

We believe that effective discipline is based upon an expectation of good behaviour and sound relationships within a secure, caring environment.  A positive atmosphere should be fostered which embraces the need for mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of every member of the school community:  children, teachers, non-teaching staff, governors, parents, visitors and voluntary helpers.  In order to achieve this, everyone will need to be aware of, and apply fairly and consistently, such expectations.

 

 

At Appleton Wiske Primary School, we expect that:

 

 

1.                    Everyone will be treated with courtesy and respect;

 

2.                   Everyone will set a personal example and treat others as they would like to be treated;

 

3.                   Property belonging to the school and to other people will be respected;

 

4.                   Positive aspects of a person’s personality and behaviour will be praised;

 

5.                   Everyone will understand the need for school rules and will abide by them:

 

6.                   Everyone will always try their best in both work and behaviour.

 

 

We have 6 Golden School Rules which all children are expected to follow;

 

·         Be kind and helpful

 

·         Be honest

 

·         Work hard

 

·         Be gentle

 

·         Listen

 

·         Look after property

 

 

 

 

Before School

 

As a school we recognise the value of the open door philosophy that exists before morning school.  The involvement and contact with parents is valued as being a strength of a small rural school.  It is important, however, that pupils in school adhere to certain criteria:

 

 

q  The option that exists before school is to be out in the playground – not wandering around school.  No children permitted into school before 8.35am.

 

 

q  Children in Class 1 must remain in the classroom after they have been brought into school by a parent/carer. They should be engaged in meaningful, quiet activities.  Running about and noisy games must be reserved for the playground.

 

 

 

During School

 

Good discipline within school is essential for effective learning.  Children have the right to be able to concentrate on the task in hand without being distracted by poor behaviour around them.  It is important that all misdemeanours are dealt with and are seen to be disapproved of by the class teacher.  In the case of difficult children strategies can be discussed with colleagues if a particular behaviour pattern is causing major concern.  This will help to ensure a consistent approach to behaviour problems.

 

 

q  During registration, it is important that quiet is insisted upon at this time and that all responses to the register are courteous.

 

 

q  When lining up at the classroom door children should be quiet and orderly, without constant reminders.  If they do not line up correctly, they should sit down and repeat the task.  For continual problems, practice at playtimes may be considered as an option.  It may be useful to split up troublesome children both in the line and assemblies, so as to minimise the temptation to misbehave.

 

 

q  No children should be left unsupervised in the classroom.  When pupils are unable to take part in a PE session because they do not have their PE kits, they should wrap up warm and watch.  If however there is a medical reason why they cannot take part, then they should be placed in another classroom by negotiation.

 

 

q  Children should always move around school in a sensible manner, without running.  Any member of staff noticing inappropriate behaviour should make a point of correcting the child involved.  This is especially important when entering the hall.

 

 

 

After School

 

Just as it is important that there is an acceptable level of behaviour before school, it is important that children leave the school in a proper manner. 

 

 

Teachers must walk out with their classes at the end of the day.  Any children causing concern should be either sent back to exit properly or made to wait at the end of the line.

 

 

School Rules

 

The school rules are in place to make the school a safe and happy place for everyone.

 

 

1.        Children will not be allowed in the school building before 8.35am. They may place their bags on pegs, packed lunches on the trolley and then return to the playground.

 

2.       Move carefully and quietly around the school – always walk, stand aside to let others pass and hold doors open.

 

3.       Speak politely to everyone.

 

4.       Be responsible for their own belongings.

 

5.       Bicycles or scooters must be walked to and from the gate and not ridden.

 

6.       Walk on the footpaths not on the grass.

 

7.       Pupils should enter the school through their cloakroom areas.

 

8.       Look after and help each other.

 

9.       Listen to each other and to adults.  Don’t interrupt when others are talking – wait patiently for your turn.

 

10.   Take pride in the classroom and the school.

 

11.      Children are not allowed to play out of sight of the teacher.

 

12.    Special play equipment will be available at playtimes and lunchtimes. In order to maintain the equipment a borrowing system will be administered by Class 3 children.

 

13.    Treat everyone, as you would like to be treated yourself.

 

 

 

 

Rewards

 

The main aim of the school’s behaviour policy is to identify and change unacceptable behaviour.  It is recognised that there are many children who are helpful and well behaved in school who may not always get the recognition they deserve.  For this, we have 2 systems in place.

 

 

Pupil of the week

 

 A child’s name is chosen to be the pupil of the week if they have shown that they are caring and helpful to others, for a significant change in behaviour or a piece of outstanding work/effort.

 

The pupil of the week will be used for deserving cases only – names are not entered for the sake of it. During each Friday assembly, nominated children will be picked out along with the reason for their entry.  They will then be awarded a certificate and prize. All children will be invited to tea with the headteacher in recognition of this fact.  It is hoped that recognition of good attitudes will inspire others to be recognised.

 

 

Behaviour Book

 

The behaviour book is used when children are not adhering to the six golden rules. For all children who are not recorded in the book, they are awarded with a certificate at the end of each term to congratulate them on their good behaviour. There will also be a special “golden day” on the last day of each half term, where activities will be arranged along a chosen theme for children to partake in.

 

 

Code of Practice

 

 What is unacceptable behaviour?

 

 

1.                    Disregard of requests for reasonable behaviour.

 

2.                   Disruption of class or group activities.

 

3.                   Disregard for other’s property.

 

4.                   Abusive behaviour or language, either to other pupils or to adults.

 

5.                   Disregard for school rules.

 

6.                   Bullying or racial or sexual harassment.

 

 

Children need to remember that there are boundaries beyond which they will not go, and a firm reminder will occasionally be necessary.

 

 

Options for Managing Behaviour.

 

 

1.                    A discussion between the adult and the child may be the most appropriate method for an isolated incident.

 

2.                   Change the seating options within the classroom being aware that at times some children may need to work alone.

 

3.                   Children will be required to complete unfinished work either at break or lunch time, or at home. 

 

4.                   Withdraw a privilege, such as a playtime. 

 

5.                   Refer the child to the Head. 

 

6.                   Time out

 

7.                   A record of repeated incidents may need to be kept.

 

 

 

Children causing Concern.

 

 

It is important to have concrete evidence of children who persistently misbehave. The class behaviour book does this. The school’s behaviour tracking system will record the majority of incidents. (See Appendix 1)

 

For more serious incidents, additional information may be needed. The following should be included: 

 

 

                        What the behaviour problem was;

 

                        When it occurred;

 

                        Teacher’s response;

 

                        Child’s response.

 

 

It may be necessary to involve the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator)

 

 

 

 

Sanctions

 

 

If within the period of one day a child scores three warning points then they automatically miss a playtime, all warnings and what they were given for must be recorded in a Class Behaviour Book which is to be inspected periodically by the Headteacher.  It is acceptable to use the code number or letter to record the inappropriate behaviour and any additional comments recorded when necessary.

 

 

A child who is placed in the behaviour book will be given a warning first about their behaviour. If this persists, then they will be placed in the behaviour book. Children who are placed in the behaviour book once will miss one session of golden day (5 sessions in total) and spend that session working in the library. However, an improvement in behaviour can earn the child back this privilege and their name be removed from the behaviour book.

 

 

 

Each day is a new start

 

 

Behaviour Card

 

 

If, within the period of one week, three or more playtimes are missed, then this should be brought to the attention of the Head Teacher who will contact the parents/carers to discuss their child’s behaviour and work out possible solutions.

 

A possible outcome of this may be the issuing of a behaviour card to cover a period of three/five days at his/her discretion. The card is to be signed at the end of each work period, playtime and lunchtime to confirm that their behaviour has been satisfactory. KS2 pupils are responsible for looking after the card-teachers will look after it for younger pupils.   At the end of each day, a satisfactory or unsatisfactory decision will be given. The card will also be taken home each night for the parents/carers to read and sign – adding their comments if they wish.

 

The majority of days must be satisfactory to remove the sanction of the card. 

 

If no improvement is noted, it may be appropriate to start an IBP (Individual Behaviour Plan) in consultation with the SENCO, when the child will be given specific behaviour targets to achieve.

 

It may be that there is a need for continued monitoring of the child, with regular discussions between the child, the parents and the Headteacher.

 

 

It may also be necessary to refer the problem to a specialist e.g. the Educational Welfare Officer or Educational Psychologist.

 

 

Exclusion.

 

As a final resort, it may be necessary to exclude a child from the school.

 

 

Temporary Exclusion

 

On a temporary basis, the parents must be notified immediately of the exclusion and of the reason for it.  If this exceeds more that five days in any one term, the governing body and at present the LEA must be informed.  The parents have the right of appeal, and the Head may be instructed to lift the exclusion.

 

 

Indefinite Exclusion

 

Parents have the right of appeal and either the governing body or the LEA may direct the Head to lift the exclusion.

 

 

Permanent Exclusion

 

The parent’s right of appeal is only to the governing body and they alone can instruct the Head to reinstate the child.

 

 

Appendix 1

 

 

In order that teachers/support staff do not spend too much time filling in details in the behaviour book, the following codes have been selected.