We encourage children to identify and consider the rights and responsibilities which apply to life in school, so that children understand the need for the rules which underpin them. Rights which apply to all include the right to be physically safe, so moving around the premises must be done sensibly and play fighting is discouraged. The right to be emotionally safe entails no name calling, ‘winding up’ or ‘putting down’ of others. The right to get on with learning means that all children have a responsibility both to apply themselves to their own learning and to ensure that others can learn without interruption.
In the classroom, children are expected to concentrate on their work and to ensure that their behaviour contributes to, rather than undermines, the learning of other children. They are encouraged to listen carefully to both teachers and to other children and to co-operate and collaborate with others. Classroom rules are discussed and drawn up in each class and displayed prominently.
We recognise that children need to learn how to relate to each other and that this process is complex. In many instances children sort out minor problems amicably and without repercussions. However, they may need support on occasion with strategies needed to solve differences. On the playground children always have access to members of staff to whom they can turn for such support.
Children are taught that some behaviours are unacceptable at any time in school, for instance, we discourage the use of bad language. We also teach children to understand that some appropriate behaviour can be linked to context i.e. running and shouting on the playground is fine, but it is not acceptable elsewhere in school.
We place our emphasis on the promotion of positive attitudes to behaviour and to learning.
When a child’s behaviour or attitude is unacceptable and they fail to respond to a request to modify it appropriately, clear sanctions are in place to remind the child of the need to behave in an acceptable manner. If a child’s behaviour causes concern through the persistent or serious nature of the problem, parents are contacted and asked to discuss the issue with a member of staff. We teach children the ‘PAWS’ scheme to help them remember to behave appropriately: “Play Fairly, Act Kindly, Work Hard, Speak Politely”.
We also use ELSA in our school to support individual children at various times in their school life, if required. This is done through an internal referral system, and we have a dedicated member of staff and a dedicated space to facilitate this.
