Principles

At Alwoodley Primary School we believe that good behaviour is a necessary prerequisite for enabling effective teaching and learning to take place. This policy emphasises our respect for the rights of each individual and our understanding of the responsibilities we all share as members of our school community. We aim to develop in each child feelings of: security, positive self-image, self-confidence, group identity and responsibility for his/her own actions. We continuously strive to ensure that everyone in our school is treated with respect and dignity and that each person in our school will be given fair and equal opportunities to develop their full potential with positive regard to:

• Gender

• Ethnicity

• Cultural and religious background

• Faith

• Sexuality

• Disability or SEMH (Social, emotional and mental health) needs.

At times there will be individual children who have particular needs that mean they will need additional support and tolerance by all staff which may have to be sustained over long periods of time. If we believe that a child may be going to hurt themselves or someone else we may need to intervene.

Our School Rules

These rules apply at all times including lunchtimes and any situation either

on the school premises or on an educational visit.

Rewarding Appropriate Behaviour

Our main practice is one of positive recognition, in which more emphasis is placed on rewards than on sanctions. We always seek to encourage appropriate behaviour by using a range of positive reinforcement strategies matched to the child and their situation. These include:

• A smile, gesture or verbal praise

• Team Points

• Stickers

• Being sent to members of staff for praise

• Head Teacher Awards

• Certificate assemblies

• Come Dine with Me

• Praise texts home

• Merit systems developed by teachers for their class

• Class Enrichment Activity

Sanctions

If a child is not following our school rules then these our the steps that staff will work through:

1. Child will be given a verbal or gesture warning

2. Child will be given a yellow card

3. Child will be given a red card

4. Child will be sent to the next-door class with a cause and effect map. They will reflect on their behaviour and its consequences. When they return to the classroom, the teacher will carry out restorative work.

5. Child will be sent to a member of the Senior Management Team and parents will be informed.

Peer on Peer Abuse/ Child on Child

We recognise that children are capable of abusing their peers and that peer on peer abuse can manifest in many different ways, including bullying, cyber bullying, criminal and sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and violence, initiation/hazing, inappropriate/harmful sexualised behaviours, upskirting and youth produced imagery (sexting) and abuse within intimate partner relationships.

It is very clear that this type of abuse should always be treated seriously, and never just as banter or part of growing up. Any concerns around peer on peer/child on child abuse must be reported and recorded in line with the child protection procedures outlined in section 15 of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to meeting the needs of all our children and seek to provide equality of opportunity and access for all. We encourage every child to choose appropriate behaviour regardless of age, gender, race, religion, culture or ability. This policy reinforces respect for the beliefs and actions of individuals within the context of a shared community.

Special Needs

We aim to meet the needs of those children who find choosing appropriate behaviour difficult, through special programmes of negotiated targets. The SENCo, SENCo Support and Learning Mentor are able to advise staff about suitable programmes and their implementation.

Working together with Parents/Carers

We rely upon parental support to achieve our aims. We try to keep parents informed about our behaviour policy and encourage them to discuss aspects of it with their children.

Parenting Contracts /Home School Agreement may be drawn up for individuals. We encourage parents and carers to share their concerns about their child’s happiness and behaviour with us.