Behaviour Policy - Rebecca Parkinson & Sarah Bullen 12/02

What is a behaviour policy?

The law requires schools to have a written behaviour policy

Guidance requirements - 'The establishment of an effective behaviour policy is not only a legal duty upon Boards of Governors and school principles and the cornerstone of pastoral care work, but is also fundamental to successful work in the classroom'

All stakeholders should be involved in creating the school's behaviour policy. This is then checked and reviewed by the governing body

The school's behaviour policy is therefore designed to support the way in which all members of the school can work together in a supportive way. It aims to promote an environment in which everyone feels happy, safe and secure

What makes an effective behaviour policy?

A school behaviour policy covers sanctions and rewards

Teachers, children and parents should be aware of the behaviour policy in place

Behaviour policies must be followed by all teachers to ensure consistency throughout the school

Low-level disruption

Often, when we think about behaviour issues in school, we think of bigger incidents

However, it is the low-level disruption that can become a barrier to learning

Managing these behaviours is crucial to ensuring a well-managed classroom

Low-level disruption includes:

• Playing with equipment

• Swinging on chairs

• Turning around

• Shouting out

Dealing with low-level disruptions

Non-verbal techniques

Removing something from the child (whilst still talking)

Gestures - i.e. tapping on the table / pointing

Eye contact / facial expressions

Pausing for a moment

Raising voice slightly / changing the tone

Space - movement around the room

Behaviour at Nicol Mere

Behaviour files

At Nicol Mere, each class has a behaviour file, containing records of incidents of behaviour for each individual child

The file is passed up to the following year group in September so that a paper trail of behaviour for particular children can be monitored

At the end of each term, each child in the behaviour file is reviewed to see if there are any issues that need picking up on

Behaviour logged in this file is the higher level incidents and not low-level disruptions, although these should not be ignored if they become consistent

IBP (Individual Behaviour Plan)

For some children in school whose behaviour needs monitoring there are behaviour plans in place

For some of these children, their behaviour is being monitored with the use of an IBP whilst for other, they are on the SEN register for their behaviour issues

An IBP is monitored through the use of targets given. It is reviewed usually termly, to see if the targets have been achieved and whether new targets need to be set