Statement on Behaviour Principles

Whole parts of my day are spent dealing with the behaviour of children, both for sanctioning and rewarding. I have evolved from my early years in teaching in handling difficult children (and adults) and trying to resolve incidents between pupils. In my blogs over the next months, I am going to examine;

• a positive behaviour policy including behaviour cards
• the importance of behaviour plans
• school rules and the application of these
• what to ignore and challenge in the classroom
• the management of difficult pupils
• resolving issues between pupils
• dealing with difficult parents
• learning from mistakes and moving forward.

As a starting point, a Statement of Behaviour Principles has to be created by the Governors in a school in conjunction with the Head, Deputy Head, SMT and even the School Council (if possible). Below is the DfE advice and a model Statement of Behviour Policy.

From DfE: Behaviour and discipline in schools – Guidance from Governing Policy:  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/463484/Behaviour_and_discipline_in_schools_guidance_for_governing_bodies.pdf

1. Under Section 88(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA), governing bodies must ensure that policies designed to promote good behaviour and discipline on the part of its pupils are pursued at the school.

2. Section 88(2) of the EIA requires the governing body to:

a. make, and from time to time review, a written statement of general principles to guide the head teacher in determining measures to promote good behaviour and discipline amongst pupils; and

b. notify the head teacher and give him or her related guidance if the governing body wants the school’s behaviour policy to include particular measures or address particular issues.

3. When carrying out the functions under Section 88(2), the governing body must have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Paragraphs 6-11 below provide this statutory guidance.

4. Before making their statement of principles, the governing body must consult (in whatever manner they think appropriate) the head teacher, school staff, parents and pupils. And so on…

Statement of Behaviour Principles – A Model Policy

Introduction

The Governing Body of _______________________________ believe that a whole school approach to promoting positive behaviour is fundamental to the ethos of the school and have agreed that the statement of behavior principles as detailed below is to be used as guidance for the formation of a Behaviour Policy.

Statement of Behaviour Principles

• ·        All members of the school community are of equal worth and they will be treated equally regardless of gender, physical or mental ability, cultural or ethnic background or sexual orientation.
• ·        Pupils will be encouraged to develop self-esteem, independence, self-discipline and responsibility.
• ·        Core values and rules will be determined. They will be prominently displayed and discussed in the school.
• ·        Parents / carers and pupils are expected to be working collaboratively with the school in order to maintain an orderly climate for learning.
• ·        Violence, threatening behaviour or abuse by parents/ carers or pupils towards the school staff will not be tolerated. If a parent / carer does not conduct themselves in an appropriate manner the school may ban them from the school premises and if the parent / carer continues to cause a disturbance they may be liable to prosecution.
• ·        There will be a wide range of rewards which will be consistently and fairly applied by all staff in order to encourage and reward the pupils for good behaviour.
• ·        Sanctions for unacceptable / poor behaviour should be known and understood by all staff and pupils and consistently applied.
• ·        Sanctions must also be reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances. They must be age appropriate and take into account any special educational needs and disabilities of pupils as well as the needs of vulnerable children.
• ·        The use of exclusions will be considered within the range of sanctions.
• ·        The Headteacher will consider, in accordance with the law, the searching of pupils as well the confiscation of items.
• ·        The Headteacher will consider the use of sanctions to pupils for behaviour which has not occurred on the school premises and which may impact the school.
• ·        The Headteacher will consider the use of reasonable means, de-escalation techniques or physical restraint should the circumstances require it provided staff act lawfully.
• ·        The Headteacher will give consideration to the training requirements of staff in respect of reasonable means, de-escalation techniques or physical restraint.
• ·        The Headteacher will consider sanctions that will be taken against pupils who have been found to make malicious accusations against school staff.
• ·        Consistency in approach is to be applied by all staff when using both rewards and sanctions.

 Monitoring and Evaluation

The Governing Body will undertake to consult on a periodic basis with staff, parents / carers, children and visitors to the school in order to consider areas of development or enhancements to this statement of behaviour principles.