Priestley Smith Specialist School

PRIESTLEY SMITH SPECIALIST SCHOOL

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR AND ANTI BULLYING POLICY

ETHOS

Priestley Smith School is a specialist school for pupils with visual impairment. We are an all-age school, catering for pupils aged 3 to 19 years. Many pupils also have additional needs which include difficulties with learning, communication, physical impairment, hearing impairment, emotional and behavioural difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Priestley Smith School aims to provide a safe, secure and happy environment in which pupils can develop independence and can achieve to the best of their ability. The school values and respects all individuals and rewards success and achievement in many different ways. We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and respect for difference in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability and sexuality. We seek to create an environment in which diversity is celebrated and in which all barriers to inclusion are challenged.

Priestley Smith School is committed to the rights of the child as outlined in the UN Convention and is working towards Rights Respecting Schools award. This belief influences everything the school does and impacts particularly upon our behaviour policy. Our school believes that each child has the right to express their opinion, to participate, to be cared for, to be safe and to have access to an appropriate high quality education which develops his or her talents and personality. With these rights, however, also come responsibilities - responsibilities for staff, for parents/carers and for the students themselves. Our behaviour policy and practice is therefore based upon an understanding of these mutual responsibilities and upon mutual respect for and by all.

In order to ensure positive behaviour in our pupils, staff recognise that they must follow a consistent approach at all times. We recognise that it is essential to be absolutely clear about the expected standards of behaviour, to ensure that our policy is understood by all staff, parents and pupils and to ensure a good balance between rewards and sanctions. We recognise the need to incorporate into our teaching clear messages about acceptable and appropriate behaviour, in order to maximize learning opportunities.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR/ANTI-BULLYING AIMS

Priestley Smith School believes that the most effective behaviour policy is one in which the combined strengths of students, staff, governors and parents are utilized.

We believe that positive behaviour and discipline are essential to learning and contribute towards increased educational opportunities. Where disruption is at a minimum, pupils will have the best opportunity to learn.

This policy aims to

·  Outline an agreed code of conduct based upon rights and responsibilities which promotes a harmonious environment in which effective teaching and learning can take place and which helps everyone to work cooperatively together

·  Instill in everyone the qualities of respect for others, trust and fairness, tolerance and compassion, honesty, respect for property, self-respect and self-discipline.

EXPECTATIONS OF STAFF AND PUPILS

Embedded in this policy are the following expectations of ALL staff and pupils.

Staff are expected to:

·  Be good role models for others

·  Have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour

·  Promote a positive working atmosphere throughout the school

·  Meet and greet pupils when they come into the classroom and as they move around the school

·  Display agreed rules in the classroom and ensure that all pupils and staff know what they are

·  Ensure through form time that all students understand the tariff of rewards. Have a system in place to follow through with all rewards and sanctions

·  Ensure that all resources are prepared in advance

·  Praise the behaviour they want to see more of

·  Praise children doing the right thing more than criticising those are doing the wrong thing

·  Differentiate

·  Stay calm

·  Have clear routines for transitions

·  Through communication books, telephone calls and Parents’ meetings, give feedback to parents about their child’s behaviour, letting them know about the good days as well as the bad ones Follow the school behaviour policy

Pupils are expected to:

·  Behave in a way that respects the rights and responsibilities of all

·  Be responsible for their own behaviour

·  Be polite and courteous to staff and to each other

·  Complete all work assignments on time and to the best of their ability

·  Understand that aggression of any type (physical, verbal etc) is never acceptable within our school and will lead to strong sanctions being imposed. This includes threatening, bullying or intimidating other pupils while in school, while travelling to and from school or by electronic means e.g. mobile phones, email or net-working sites will also not be tolerated.

·  Understand that swearing and abusive language which also includes sexist or racist comments is not acceptable.

·  Refrain from bringing personal, valuable items into school unless agreed by staff. Mobile phones should only be brought into school by independent travellers and should be kept in lockers throughout the day. Mobile phones which are seen during the day will be confiscated and will be locked away by school staff until the end of the day when they can again be collected. Any child needing to make an urgent telephone call home will be allowed to use school phones.

·  Refrain from bringing cigarettes, alcohol or drugs into school.

·  Follow rules about school uniform, attendance and starting times. These are laid out in the school prospectus.

·  Walk on the left hand side of corridors and avoid running in the building.

TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Pupils travel to school either with a sighted guide or on organized transport with an escort. A few pupils travel independently. In all cases students are expected to behave in accordance with the code of conduct outlined above.

Escorts and guides are in charge of the travel arrangements for each pupil and they also monitor behaviour during this period.

Any behaviour which prejudices safety or is otherwise unacceptable will be reported to the Senior Mobility Officer and the Senior Leadership Team. Such behaviour may result in a change to an individual’s transport arrangements, in consultation with LA Transport Department and parents. If necessary, specialist individual contracts may be drawn up with pupils and parents and, in severe cases, may result in the withdrawal of Local Authority transport.

Pupils, whether on public transport or private hire vehicles, are expected to:

·  Arrive at school on time

·  Travel to school in a safe and orderly manner

·  Be respectful to guides and escorts and follow their advice at all times

·  Maintain the same standards expected within school whilst outside in the public domain

Behaviour is monitored continuously and incidents of poor behaviour are brought to the attention of the school’s Leadership Team and to the Senior Mobility Officer.

SCHOOL VISITS/RESIDENTIAL VISIT BEHAVIOUR

The same expectations of pupils, school rules and consequences apply on all outings. If a pupil misbehaves on any school visit the school reserves the right to refuse access for that pupil to subsequent visits. In this case, staff would monitor behaviour in order to make judgments about future access for that pupil and revise the decision accordingly.

In the case of inappropriate behaviour on residential visits, the school may request that parents remove the pupil or make contributions towards an early return. Fortunately, incidences of this kind are very rare.

REWARDS/INCENTIVES

Staff at Priestley Smith School believe that pupils will be encouraged to achieve and behave well if these qualities are recognised and rewarded. The following strategies are used to encourage this:

·  Verbal praise is used by staff with all pupils throughout the school to recognize achievement.

·  Primary pupils have an Awards Assembly each week which celebrates individual achievements. Selected pupils are allowed to choose a prize and their photographs are then displayed in the school foyer for the following week. The Head of Department also chooses an overall winner for the week, which can include staff!

·  Individual Primary staff use their own in-class incentives such as star charts, stickers etc.

·  The achievements of Secondary pupils are similarly recognized in a merit award scheme where pupils work towards silver, gold and platinum status by accumulating merits.

·  In both departments achievement is recognized in end of term joint assemblies in which certificates and prizes are given. At this time certificates are also given for attendance, specialist subject achievement e.g. progress in PE, music exam awards etc. and positive attitudes. All staff are involved in the selection of pupils and any staff may propose suitable candidates.

SANCTIONS

Priestley Smith School also believes that, for the few pupils who transgress agreed boundaries, sanctions should be enforced in order to improve future behaviour.

·  Low level disruption in class, i.e. interrupting others, calling out, refusal to participate in tasks, will be dealt with by the class or subject teacher in the first instance – including the pupil missing breaktime in order to complete work missed during the ‘disruption’. Pupils will be reminded of agreed rules and generally conform to expectations.

·  Persistent or escalating behaviour of this kind may be drawn to the attention of the Headteacher, Head of Department and parents. In most cases this process alone will lead to an improvement. However, in a few cases, the pupil may miss playtimes or be put on report in which behaviour in lessons is recorded in order to establish frequency of inappropriate behaviour and to measure improvement. The report ceases when behaviour has shown consistent improvement. In all such cases progress is shared with parents/carers.

·  Sexist, racist and other discriminatory remarks to pupils or staff are treated very seriously and are recorded on termly monitoring reports to the Local Authority. Such behaviour will be brought to the attention of senior staff and parents and will involve sanctions such as detention, making formal apologies to injured parties and fixed term exclusion if the offence is repeated. Low level physically challenging behaviour such as pushing will also be dealt with in this way.

·  Pupils who are physically aggressive towards other pupils or staff by punching, kicking, spitting or throwing objects are likely to be excluded from school on a fixed term basis, which is usually 1-3 days at the discretion of the Headteacher and the Governing Body. The parents/carers, Chair of Governors and Local Authority will always be informed of such incidents and parents will be given information on their right to appeal against the decision. (See the appendix containing a sample letter to be sent home with parent and child in these circumstances). Discussions with parents will take place, either by phone or by meetings in school, about the circumstances around the exclusion and agreed strategies to avoid further incidences. If necessary, outside agencies may be approached to explore with parents and school reasons behind the behaviour and to discuss strategies for the way forward. In extreme cases, where behaviour continues or increases, further incidences may lead to permanent exclusion, although this is extremely rare. In any incidences of swearing or abusive language, the pupil is reminded that such language is not acceptable and is expected to apologise. Should it be repeated within that session the pupil may be asked to leave the room to minimise disruption to other pupils and would join another class or be supervised by a Senior Member of Staff and parents would be contacted to discuss the issue. Frequent and repeated instances may lead to further sanctions including fixed term exclusion.

·  In very rare cases, when a pupil is considered to be a danger to himself, other pupils, staff or to school property, physical intervention may be used. Such intervention is always used as a last resort to ensure physical safety and is carried out by staff trained in TEAMTEACH and in accordance with the school’s Physical Intervention Policy and Guidelines.

·  For some pupils, challenging behaviour may be part of their SEN profile. These pupils will have an Individual Behaviour Plan (IBP), which is followed by all staff and is agreed with parents/carers. This IBP is reviewed at least termly and ensures a consistent, whole school approach to managing and reducing difficult behaviours.

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP

Repeated incidences of inappropriate behaviour will lead to the school seeking advice from the allocated Educational Psychologist who will carry out observations, meet with student, staff and parents to advise and help. The school may also, in liaison with parents, seek a referral to counsellors, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) or school Health Services as necessary. Parents are consulted about this at all times and will have agreed to this action. These agencies will work jointly with staff and parents in providing courses of therapy and action.

REFERRAL AND RECORDING SYSTEMS

·  It is the responsibility of all staff to insist on positive/good behaviour.

·  Any serious incidences must be reported to the class teacher, Year tutor and the Senior Leadership Team.

·  Class teachers take responsibility for behaviour in class and lessons. All serious incidents must be recorded in the Incident Books which are kept in the Headteacher’s office in the Primary department and in the Secretary’s office in the Secondary department.

·  In the case of exclusions, the Local Authority’s policy must be followed and recorded in the appropriate documentation.

·  If there is a regular or persistent pattern to behaviour, even if this is minor, it should be brought to the attention of the Senior Leadership Team.

·  Records of merits and good behaviour are kept in both departments, as well as academic achievement and attendance.

PROCEDURES FOR INCIDENTS OF BULLYING

DEFINITION

Bullying is the deliberate and conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten another person. It can take the form of verbal, physical, emotional abuse or intimidation. This now also includes cyber bullying when mobile phones, email or social websites may be used with the same intention.

Bullying is wrong; it damages children and we will do all we can to prevent it. We

will continue to develop a school ethos in which all forms of bullying are regarded as totally unacceptable. We recognise that bullying takes many forms including hitting, kicking, pushing, name calling and excluding. We recognise that bullying is possible in all schools and we try to be vigilant and responsive. Pupils are encouraged to feel that it is the safe and right thing to do to tell of problems concerning bullying. PSHE, assemblies and Circle Time sessions are used in order to teach pupils about the issue of bullying, how to deal with it and where and how to get help.