Governing Body Statement of Behaviour principles
The Department for Education requires governing bodies of maintained schools to publish a statement of behaviour principles for their school. The Governing Body therefore has a duty to produce, and review, a written statement of general principles to guide the Headteacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst pupils. The document ‘Behaviour and Discipline in Schools – Guidance for Governing Bodies’ (DFE – January 2016) has been used as a reference in producing this Statement of Behaviour Principles.
Ash Hill Primary School is an inclusive school. We are committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting respect, fairness and social inclusion. These are the principles underlying the school’s behaviour policy. We are committed to improving outcomes for our children and staff and to promoting good relations across the whole school community. We recognise the importance of applying these principles to behaviour both in school and online.
Right to Feel Safe at all Times:
All young people, staff and other members of the school community have the right to feel safe at all times whilst in school. We expect all members of the school community to behave responsibly and to treat each other with respect. The Behaviour Policy, Home School Agreement, Staff Code of Conduct and the Parent and Visitor Behaviour Policy outline the expectations of behaviour from members of the school community.
All members of the school community should be aware that bullying or harassment of any description is unacceptable, even if it occurs outside normal school hours.
High Standards of Behaviour:
The governors strongly believe that high standards of behaviour lie at the heart of a successful school.
Excellent teaching and learning promote good behaviour and good behaviour promotes effective learning.
Children have the right to learn and to achieve their potential in all aspects of their lives and staff have the right to teach.
Governors also believe that the expectation of high standards of behaviour which are required during the school day can have a positive effect on the life of young people outside school in encouraging them to become successful citizens of modern Britain.
Inclusivity and Equality:
We are an inclusive school; we believe in equality and in valuing the individual. We believe all members of the school community should be free from discrimination, harassment and bullying and will not tolerate them in any form. Measures to counteract bullying and discrimination will be consistently applied and monitored for their effectiveness.
The school’s legal duties in order to comply with the Equality Act 2010 will be further reinforced through the Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy and seek to safeguard vulnerable pupils. We recognise some pupils may need additional support to meet behaviour expectations.
School Values:
School values and expectations will be detailed in our Behaviour Policy. We believe in consistent systems differentiated by age, in taking responsibility for our actions – in choice and consequence.
We expect that all staff will support and promote our values and ensure consistent application and expectations across the school day.
Rewards:
We believe positive behaviours should be rewarded to encourage good behaviour in the classroom and elsewhere in the school.
The Governors expect that any rewards system is explained to others who have responsibility for young people, such as extended school provision and, where applicable, home to school transport so that there is a consistent message to pupils that good behaviour reaps positive outcomes.
The rewards system must be regularly monitored for consistency, fair application and effectiveness.
Sanctions:
Sanctions for unacceptable/poor behaviour should be known and understood by all staff, other adults with authority for behaviour, pupils and parents/carers including extended provision.
It is important that sanctions are monitored for their proper use, consistency and effective impact.
The school’s Behaviour Policy and behaviour monitoring systems will identify when a multi-agency assessment should be considered for pupils who display continuous disruptive behaviour.
Home/School Agreement:
The Home/School Agreement will be an important part of communicating our approach so that parents/carers can be encouraged to support their child, just as the pupils should be helped to understand their responsibilities during their time at school, in the wider community and in preparation for their life after school.
The responsibilities of children, parents/carers and all school staff with respect to their own and their children’s behaviour should be outlined in the Home School Agreement which children, parents/carers and teachers must be asked to sign when a pupil joins the school.
The use of Reasonable Force:
The Governors expect the Whole School Behaviour Policy to clearly outline the circumstances where staff may use reasonable force and other physical contact. At all times the use of force should be a last resort.
The Governors expect that ‘authorised’ staff are appropriately trained in the use of reasonable force and restraint and that all staff are given advice on de-escalation and behaviour management techniques regularly.
There is a statutory duty to record and report all significant incidents including all use of force. Where a risk has been identified an individual pupil ‘Behaviour Management Plan’ may specify a particular physical intervention technique for the pupil concerned.
Screening and Searching Pupils
The governors expect the Headteacher to include screening and searching pupils in the Behaviour Policy. In particular, the reasons for searching pupils should be made explicit, together with details of who may search, where such searching should take place, what will happen to any banned items found as a result of such a search and what sanctions will be applied. It should also be made clear that parents do not have to be informed before a search. Governors would expect authorised staff to be appropriately trained in how to carry out a search.
Pastoral Care for School Staff:
The Behaviour Policy must include details of how the school will respond to an allegation against a member of staff. The Governors would not expect automatic suspension of a member of staff who has been accused of misconduct, pending an investigation.
The Governors would, however, expect the Headteacher to draw on and follow the advice in the ‘Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and Other Staff’ guidance when setting out the pastoral support school staff can expect to receive if they are accused of misusing their powers.
In addition, the Behaviour Policy should set out the disciplinary action that will be taken against children who are found to have made malicious accusations against school staff.