Discipline Policy

Abbey Gate School wishes to provide a school environment that is safe and stimulating for the children in our care. In order to ensure that this is so, we have introduced a policy with set procedures to create a calm, secure and happy working environment for all.

We have a Code of Conduct that sets out, in general terms, how we expect our pupils to behave in school and on visits. All pupils are expected to behave according to the guidelines set out in the Code.

Aims

To develop a Behaviour Policy, supported and followed by the whole school community – parents, teachers, children and Governors – based on a sense of community and shared values.
To foster a caring, family atmosphere, in which teaching and learning can take place in a safe and happy environment.
Through the School Curriculum, to teach moral values and attitudes as well as knowledge and skills. (This will promote responsible behaviour, self-discipline, self-respect and respect for other people and property).
To reinforce good behaviour, by providing a range of rewards for children of all ages and abilities, rather than simply to punish bad behaviour.
To make clear to children the distinction between minor misdemeanours and serious misbehaviour and the sanctions that will follow any misbehaviour.
To resolve behavioural problems in a caring and sympathetic manner as they occur, in the expectation of achieving an improvement in behaviour.

Code of Conduct

All members of the school community should respect one another.
All children should acknowledge the authority of, and respect, their teachers and other adults.
All children should show regard for their fellow pupils.
All children should respect their own and other people’s property and take care of books and equipment.
Abbey Gate School expects children to be well-behaved, well-mannered and attentive.
Children should walk (not run) within the school.
If a child has a grievance against another child, it should be reported to a member of staff, who will take appropriate action.
Physical violence is never acceptable, neither is retaliation. Repeated or serious incidents will lead to exclusion.
Foul or abusive language should never be used.
Children are expected to be punctual.
Children should not bring sharp or dangerous instruments to school.
Children should wear the correct school uniform. Jewellery should not be worn.
This Code of Conduct has been formulated with the safety and well-being of the children in mind, and to enable the school to function efficiently as a place of learning.

Incentive Scheme

A major intent of this policy is to encourage pupils to exhibit good behaviour; this is reinforced with a system of praise and reward for all children.

The children in Years 3 – 6 are divided into Houses with siblings remaining in the same House. Children are awarded House Points for thoughtfulness, being helpful, good work, and so on. House points are counted at the end of the month, and the winning House announced in Assembly. We hope that each member of a House will urge the others to try their best in every aspect of school life.

Reward stickers are given to the younger children both for good or improved work and for behaviour, and act as an incentive. In addition, each class teacher gives oral or written praise.

Children’s achievements both in and out of school are celebrated in Assemblies.

Most children respond to a positive approach where their efforts are acknowledged and make considerable efforts to improve their work and, when necessary, their behaviour.
 

Sanctions

There will be times when children behave unacceptably. Children need to discover where the bounds of acceptable behaviour lie, as this is a part of growing up. A Behaviour Policy should state these boundaries clearly and firmly.

Minor breaches of discipline are dealt with by the class teacher, in a caring, supportive and fair manner, having regard to the age of the child.

Each case is treated individually. Generally, children are reminded that they are responsible for their own actions and that breaking rules has consequences.

Normal sanctions include an oral reprimand and reminder of expected behaviour, loss of free time (such as breaktimes),loss of a special ‘fun’ activity, moving in class to sit alone, moving into another room, writing a letter of apology, and loss of a responsibility.

If the unacceptable behaviour is persistent or recurring, parents become involved. Children might then be placed on a daily or weekly report system, with parents’ support, to monitor their behaviour.

Major breaches of discipline are physical assault, deliberate damage to property, stealing, leaving the school premises without permission, verbal abuse, refusal to work, and disruptive behaviour in class. Abbey Gate School has a standard procedure for serious breaches of discipline. Failure to improve at any stage leads automatically to the next stage; each stage is recorded by the school.

This type of behaviour is very rare at Abbey Gate School and it is the duty of the Head Teacher or the Deputy Head Teacher to deal with it promptly, particularly if the problem persists.

Procedures for Dealing with Major Breaches of Discipline

An oral warning by the Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher concerning future conduct.
Withdrawal from the classroom for the rest of the day.
A letter to parents informing them of their child’s unacceptable behaviour.
A meeting with parents, at which a warning is given about further sanctions, unless there is an improvement in the child’s behaviour.
If the problem is severe or recurring, exclusion procedures are implemented – after consultation with the Governing Body.
A case conference with parents.
Permanent exclusion, after consultation with the Governing Body .
Parents have the right of appeal to the Governing Body against any decision to exclude their child.
NB: A particularly serious problem could result in suspending the normal procedure and a child being taken home straight away.

Lunchtime Supervision

At lunchtime, supervision is by members of staff, who work on a rota system. The duty staff should maintain order; usually by reminding children of the standard of behaviour expected. The duty staff keep note of children who misbehave persistently and they will be referred to the Deputy Head or ,in extreme cases, to the Headteacher.

This results in loss of privileges and breaktimes. Parents will be informed if there is no improvement in behaviour and the child will be excluded from the playground at lunchtime for a specified time.

Parents

Parents can help by recognising that an effective School Behaviour Policy requires close co-operation between parents, teachers and children. Parents should discuss the school rules with their child, emphasising that they support the rules.

Attending Parents’ Evenings and parents’ functions and by developing informal contacts with school helps to reinforce their support for the Policy. Learning and teaching cannot take place without sound discipline and parents should recognise that staff will deal with behaviour problems patiently and positively.
 

Care and Control of Children

Staff have a responsibility to provide interesting, challenging and well-paced lessons that motivate and engage the interest of pupils.

Staff should always promote good behaviour through praise and rewards. Staff should never chastise a child physically.

If there is a need for sanctions, the following may be invoked, depending on circumstances:

redirect to another activity
talk to the child – discuss what has happened
discussion in groups or whole class
move the child from the group to work on his/her own
repeat work
miss breaktime (but must be supervised)
Pastoral Care Support Programme
remove child from the class – place with Head Teacher or in another class
parental involvement
daily report
sanctions as in Discipline Policy.
Serious incidents are recorded in the Incident Book.

Incident Book

This is used to record:

any incidents involving a child, or anyone employed in school, resulting in personal injury or damage to property
loss, theft, or damage to property
any other incidents or matters of a serious nature.
These incidents are ones that might give rise to disciplinary or legal action or become a matter of public interest.
 

Discipline Book

This is used to record significant disciplinary measures taken by a member of staff against a child. Exclusion must always be recorded. This book is not for minor incidents in day-to-day classroom management but for serious occurrences of challenging behaviour.
 

Challenging Behaviour

Challenging behaviour can take the form of verbal abuse, physical abuse, assault, defiant refusal, and absconding.
 

Preventative Strategies
 

See sanctions above and Discipline Policy procedures.
 

Intervention

If a child attacks another child or adult violently and refuses to calm down, then physical restraint is necessary. The child is removed and taken to the Deputy Head or the Headteacher who contacts the child’s parents.

The situation is discussed with the Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher, who will work with the member of staff and parents to devise an action plan to meet that child’s and the school’s needs.

Behaviour Modification Policy

At Abbey Gate School the majority of children behave well. There are, however, occasions when individual children exhibit behaviour that is unacceptable. As part of our Discipline Policy of rewards and sanctions, all staff use behaviour modification strategies to change an individual child’s behaviour.

Each child is unique, so we investigate the cause of the misbehaviour and apply an appropriate remedy.

Various rewards are used to reinforce positive behaviour:

change in classroom organisation
using different resources
rewards of stars/smiley faces on work, on charts and in special books
use of special stickers for such things as listening, being kind, helpful, and so on
commenting on a child’s good behaviour to other children.
showing achievements in Assembly
involving parents at an early stage to co-operate on an action plan.
By using a positive system of rewards and reinforcing good behaviour, Abbey Gate School fosters children’s positive self-esteem.
 

Further information

Useful Documents and Resources

DfES/Home Office Social Inclusion: Pupil Support (Circular 10/99)

Stationery Office Discipline in schools: Report of the Committee of Enquiry Chaired by Lord Elton 1989 (reprinted 1997)

DfES/ Home Office Dealing with Troublemakers 1997

DfES The Use of Force to Control or Restrain Pupils 10/98

Folens Publishers Primary Professional Development: Behaviour Management & Policy (FA6505)