Behaviour Policy

Laurel Avenue Community Primary School is an inclusive school. We are committed to promoting respect, fairness and social inclusion and these are the principles underlying the behaviour policy. We are committed to improving outcomes for our pupils and staff and to promoting good relations across the whole school community.

Right to feel safe at all times:

All pupils, 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. They 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.

Good teaching and learning promote good behaviour and good behaviour promotes effective learning.

Pupils 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.

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 and which are described in the School’s Equality, Diversity and Cohesion Policy will be further reinforced through the Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policies and seek to safeguard vulnerable pupils. We recognise some pupils may need additional support to meet behaviour expectations.

School Rules:

The school rules are clearly set out in the Behaviour Policy and displayed around school. Governors expect these rules to be consistently applied by all staff.

We believe in consistent systems and in taking responsibility for our actions.

Rewards:

We believe positive behaviours should be rewarded to encourage good behaviour in the classroom and elsewhere in the school.

Governors expect to see a wide range of rewards, consistently and fairly applied in such a way as to encourage and reward good behaviour around school.

Governors expect that any rewards system is explained to others who have responsibility for pupils 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 recognised that the use of rewards and sanctions must have regard to the individual situation and the individual student and the Head teacher is expected to use her discretion in their use. Sanctions should however be applied fairly, consistently, proportionally and reasonably, taking into account SEND, disability and the needs of vulnerable children, and offering support as necessary.

The Governors strongly feel, that exclusions, particularly those that are permanent, must only be used as the very last resort

It is important that sanctions are monitored for their proper use, consistency and effective impact.

The Governors wish to emphasise that violence, threatening behaviour or abuse by pupils or parents/carers towards the school’s staff will not be tolerated. If a parent/carer does not conduct himself/herself properly, the school may ban them from the school premises and, if the parent continues to cause disturbance, he or she may be liable to prosecution.