Behaviour Procedures

It is a primary aim of our academy that every member of the community feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. We are a caring community, the values of which are built on mutual trust and respect for all. The academy's behaviour policy is therefore intended to support all members of our community in living and working together in a mutually beneficial way. It aims to promote an environment in which everyone feels happy, safe and secure.

The academy has a number of rules, but our behaviour policy is not primarily concerned with rule enforcement. It is a means of promoting good relationships, so that people can work together with the common purpose of helping everyone to learn.

We aim to treat all children fairly, to help them grow in a safe and secure environment and to become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the school and the wider community. The academy aims to promote and reward good behaviour, as this will develop an ethos of kindness and cooperation. We aim to promote good behaviour, rather than merely deter anti-social behaviour.

One thing we are very clear about is that we will not tolerate violence of any kind, and would act swiftly in cases where this occurs. Similarly, if we are made aware of any kind of bullying this is fully investigated and dealt with where it is found.  It is very likely that parents will be involved at an early stage in such situations.  It is unusual for us to exclude children from school, but this option is open to us in the most serious cases.  

Our Behaviour System - Overview

First and foremost we are committed to ensuring that positive behaviour management is at the heart of what we do, clearly following the values we set out for our children, especially in terms of 'Being Big Hearted' and 'Being Unusually Brave'. All pupils will be rewarded in a range of ways for showing positive attitudes to work and behaviour through certificates, stickers, team points and displays around school. We are keen to share positive behaviour and success with parents too, through celebration assemblies, text messages home and our website and Facebook pages to show off the great accomplishments of our children.

Sometimes the expected behaviour is not demonstrated and it may be necessary to use sanctions to promote the expected behaviour from an individual child. In the first instance, the class teacher is responsible for the day to day behaviour of the children, however, all members of staff will also have consistent expectations for how children are to behave within the school and when they are representing the school at outside events.  These expectations will be modelled and encouraged throughout the day. Within Foundation and Key Stage 1 we accept that these behaviours may not be demonstrated by pupils at all times, however they will be developed at every opportunity. 

Any inappropriate behaviour is dealt with calmly and quietly, following an agreed graduated card system summarised below: 

Pink -

A ‘Pink Card’ is a reminder to children to make the right choice after a lower level incident such as talking over a teacher or minor disruption in class. If a child continues to make the right choices during the remainder of the lesson the card will be taken back and no further consequences applied. 

Amber -

If a child continues to make the wrong choices, they will be given an ‘Amber Card’ and given a Reflection Sheet to think about the choices they have made – usually at a playtime with a member of the Senior Leadership Team where possible. 

On occasion it may be suitable to move straight to an ‘Amber Card’, bypassing a Pink.

Red -

If the wrong choices continue to be made or a more serious incident such as violence or aggression occurs, a child will receive a ‘Red Card’. The pupil will also miss their next break time and will complete a Reflection Sheet with Mr Hawkins or Mrs Ellemore. Parents will be informed, usually by text, if their child has received a ‘Red Card’ and details of the incident will be shared. 

Reflection Sheets

Reflection Sheets are a way for children to record what happened, why it was the wrong choice to make and what they will do next time. This will be kept on file and monitored through the year. If a child receives 3 Reflection Sheets in a week or 5 sheets in a half term they will be copied and sent home to parents. Parents will be asked to sign and return a letter to acknowledge receipt of the sheets. Parents will be able to make comments on the reply slip should they wish. 

All incidents resulting in an Amber or Red Card will be recorded on 'CPOMs', the school’s system for monitoring safeguarding and behaviour concerns.

Further Consequences 

If a child receives three Red Cards within a short period of time the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will contact parents/carers for an immediate meeting in order to discuss a behaviour plan to support the pupil in making appropriate behaviour choices. Other agencies and a formal individual pastoral support plan may also be introduced. 

Pastoral Support

We believe that strong pastoral support helps us to maintain high standards of behaviour. Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is a school subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. These skills and attributes help pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain, whilst also helping pupils to achieve their academic potential, and leave school equipped with skills they will need throughout later life. 

As a school we have a planned cycle of PSHE lessons integrated into our curriculum. We also have additional weekly pastoral groups which children access to address specific topics such as friendship issues like sharing and getting along. For some children we also offer access to a qualified counselling / coaching services to help with a range of issues such as low confidence, poor self-esteem and bereavement.

We always try to help our children in the most appropriate way possible that meets their individual needs. 

See the Pastoral Support & Nurture Page for more information.

If you would like to know more please see Behaviour Policy and Anti Bullying Policy.

Anti- Bullying Statement

Bullying is a very emotive word and it must be noted that all incidents of aggression are not bullying (Please see below). Although, through our Behaviour Policy, we work hard to ensure bullying does not happen, we must be realistic and realise that we may at any time be confronted with bullying in some form or another.

A clear aim of North Thoresby Primary Academy is to prevent bullying of any sort and to ensure that everyone can operate in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. All members of the community, including teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is and be familiar with the School policies related to this - therefore the aim of the policy is to help members of the school community to deal with bullying when it occurs and, even more importantly, to prevent it. 

Bullying is an anti-social behaviour which affects everyone; it is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. Everyone in the community has a responsibility to report any incident of bullying that comes to their attention and these reports will always be taken seriously.