Policy for Behaviour and Discipline

CODE:NS13

Agreed by Whitchurch Date: Signed: Primary School Governing Body Chair of Governing Body:

Version Date Created Changes or Reason for Update Date Approved Number V1 June 2015 New Policy

At Whitchurch Primary School we believe that behaviour and discipline depends on good, positive relationships between children and adults, founded on a sense of mutual respect. We are not solely concerned with the applications of sanctions or punishments on children who do not conform to expected standards. This is a negative approach to behaviour and discipline. Discipline should encourage self- responsibility in the children, in both a personal and a social sense, and provide a consistent, fair and reassuring framework within which the school community can operate comfortably with a clear understanding of expectations. This is the positive approach. Good behaviour and discipline in the school is the responsibility of all the staff, who together share concerns for positive relationships and a mutually caring ethos, while recognising the rights and responsibilities of all individuals in the community. At Whitchurch Middle School we have developed a Code of Conduct jointly with the pupils. This is organised into a framework of behaviour with clearly defined expectations which are incorporated into classroom teaching. The maintenance of good order and discipline is essential to the efficient operation of the school. This can only be effective if all members of staff, governors and parents are actively involved, are consistent, have clear expectations of the standards required and agreement on sanctions that can be applied in the event of a failure to meet those standards. There should be a good balance between rewards and punishments with staff making every effort to promote a school climate which values all cultures and emphasises positive aspects of behaviour whenever possible.

PRINCIPLES 1* The school expects pupils, parents, staff and governors to work together to promote a calm, caring and orderly school environment based on mutual respect and trust where racism, bullying, vandalism and disrespect will be regarded as unacceptable forms of behaviour.

2* Individuals have the right to feel safe, secure, valued, happy and that they are achieving.

3* The school aims for the children to understand the consequences of their actions and accept responsibility for those actions.

4* Discipline in the school should encourage that responsibility by providing a consistent, fair and reassuring framework within which all members of the school community can work.

5* Each member of the school community will be accorded the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities with due regard and respect for differences in race, religion, gender and class.

EXPECTATIONS Pupils are expected to: 6* Treat all members of the school community with respect 7* Listen to each other and to members of staff 8* Try to solve arguments through discussion 9* Keep to the basic school guidelines designed for an orderly and safe community Parents are expected to: 10* Treat all members of the school community with respect 11* Support and encourage their children to be positive members of the community 12* Support the school in its aim of maintaining high standards of work and behaviour 13* Accept their responsibilities as the most important influence on their child’s life 14* Ensure that their children attend school regularly and punctually 15* Ensure that their children are suitably dressed in school uniform

The school staff are expected to: 16* Treat all members of the school community with respect 17* Value the contribution of all members of the school community 18* Make clear to the child that in the case of misbehaviour it is the behaviour not the child that is unacceptable 19* Maintain high, fair and consistent standards which will be reflected in the classroom and around the school 20* Emphasise the positive, building confidence and a belief in achievement 21* Be available, by appointment, to discuss children’s progress with parents and to contact parents if their child’s behaviour is causing concern 22* Ensure that the children are supervised at all times on the school site 23* Be alert for unauthorised persons on the school premises

Governors are expected to: 24* Treat all members of the school community with respect 25* Support the school in achieving its aims 26* Listen to the views of members of the school community and make suggestions for developments which will benefit the whole school.

Code of Conduct for Pupils 27* Try to understand how other people feel: remember that your behaviour will affect how they feel

28* In class make it as easy as you can for everyone to learn and the teacher to teach. This means: a) listening carefully to your teacher b) working quietly and co-operatively without distracting others

29* Move quietly around the school, without running, shouting or barging 30* Be ready to help others, by opening doors or standing back to let others through

31* Be polite and helpful to everyone

32* Keep our school clean and tidy, hang up coats and bags that may have fallen in the corridor or classroom, put litter in the bins, and clear up after lunch or other activities

33* Be in the right place at the right time and keep to those areas of the school where you are supposed to be; go quickly back to class after breaks

34* Respect other people’s property and always seek permission before touching it

35* When coming to or from school, or when you are out of school on a visit or school journey, remember you represent and carry with you the good name of Whitchurch Schools

36* Wear correct school uniform each day, and wear the proper kit for all P.E. activities

37* Make up and any jewellery other than one set of stud earrings are not allowed. If you should wear jewellery for religious purposes, this should be discussed with the deputy headteacher or headteacher. Toys should not be brought to school without prior permission.

38* Sweets, chewing gum, or other foods are not to be eaten during the school day without prior permission

39* Fighting, kicking or bullying whether real or play, is not allowed at any time

40* At the end of break in the morning or at lunch times a whistle will be sounded which is the signal for all children to stop talking and stand still. At the second whistle walk quietly into school

Always remember - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR BEHAVIOUR BEHAVIOUR IN THE CLASSROOM At the beginning of each year, the teacher and the class will discuss and agree a number of rules for promoting positive behaviour and good learning in the classroom. These will be displayed prominently in the classroom, and reviewed at least once a term. Examples of such rules may be: 41* Listen if someone is talking 42* Keep your hands and feet to yourself 43* Put your hand up if you want the teacher’s attention 44* Help to keep the classroom tidy and attractive WAYS TO HANDLE DIFFICULT BEHAVIOUR 45* Keep calm and talk quietly 46* Allow a cooling down period. This prevents a confrontation with an audience watching and gives you time to think 47* Use eye contact and gesture 48* Remember to address the act and not the person, i.e. ‘You are OK but your behaviour is not’ 49* Be consistent with decisions and consequences 50* Try to provide a place for time out in the classroom or provide a calming-down area in another classroom through teacher agreement

WAYS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR

51* By matching the work to the level of individual ability

52* By careful classroom organisation which is attractive and accessible to all

53* By consistent use of praise reward and encouragement

54* By giving special responsibilities to the children as appropriate

55* By having a positive sharing time of children’s work in each class

56* By establishing a clear framework for good behaviour in the class and school

57* By remaining calm and always being consistent

58* By establishing and maintaining close home/school links

59* By modelling and praising appropriate behaviour

60* By addressing the behaviour, not the individual

MONITORING BEHAVIOUR Each teacher will use a personal recording system to make a note of incidents of particular misbehaviour in their class. Any major incident which occurs in the playground or classroom will be recorded in the school incident file on the IT Admin Network. If children do something very serious, or they keep misbehaving in the same way, then the school will get in touch with the child’s parents. If children consistently misbehave at lunch times, the parents may be asked to take the child home for the lunch break. Any cases of insulting, abusive or violent behaviour on the grounds of race or gender are treated very seriously, recorded, and the parents will be involved. Some children may need a special ‘on report’ system to control their behaviour, involving rewards/punishments for certain kinds of behaviour. This will also involve parents.

REWARDS AND SANCTIONS Praise should be used to reward and encourage positive attitudes and behaviour. Children may be asked to go to the headteacher or deputy headteacher for particular praise or encouragement, rewarded by special stamps or stickers on their work. There is a system of ‘team points’ with each child belonging to a particular team. Team points may be awarded for good behaviour, effort, good work or any action that deserves praise and encouragement. They should normally be awarded singly although at the end of a topic or an extended period of study, up to 5 may be awarded. Team points will be recorded in each class and the totals collected weekly and announced in assembly. On no account should team points be taken away once they have been given. Merits may be given to children for continued good work or consistent good effort, recorded by the class teacher. When a child has received five merits they will be rewarded with a certificate by the headteacher and a letter will be written to the parents to inform them of their child’s success. This will be repeated for 10 and 15 merits.

When children misbehave or act in a way that is not consistent with the Code of Conduct, the following sanctions may be used: 61* The child will be reprimanded and reminded of the classroom/school Code of Conduct

62* The child may miss playtime doing extra work, write a letter of apology or carry out some other task as appropriate

63* The child may be sent to the deputy headteacher or headteacher who will record the incident in the school behaviour log on the IT Admin network

64* Parents may be consulted and patterns of behaviour discussed if the teacher thinks it necessary; the deputy or headteacher should be informed of this action

65* A meeting with parents would aim to reach an agreement as to the nature of the problem and to decide on a co-operative home/school approach to correcting it, which may involve a daily or weekly report book being signed by staff and parents

66* In extreme cases a child may be excluded from school for a fixed period or permanently. There are LEA procedures for exclusion which have been agreed by the Governing Body and these will be followed. The Chair of Governors is automatically informed of any exclusions.