Code of Behaviour
Introduction
The Holy Family School Code of Behaviour has been devised by the Board of Management, School Principal and in consultation with all staff members. It replaces the existing school Code of Behaviour and follows guidelines issued by the National Education Welfare Board and Education Welfare Act 2000.
Rationale
The Board of Management of the Holy Family School decided to review the Behaviour Policy to ensure that it is in compliance with legal requirements and good practice as set out in Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guidelines for Schools, NEWB, 2008.
It is a requirement under the Education Welfare Act, 2000, Section 23 (1) which refers to the obligation on schools to prepare a code of behaviour in respect of the students registered at the school. It details in Section 23 (2), that the code of behaviour shall specify:
(a) The standards of behaviour that shall be observed by each student attending the school
(b) The measures that shall be taken when a student fails or refuses to observe those standards
(c) The procedures to be followed before a student may be suspended or expelled from the school concerned
(d) The grounds for removing a suspension imposed in relation to a student
(e) The procedures to be followed in relation to a child’s absence from school.
The Holy Family School’s Code of Behaviour defines the responsibilities that all members of the school community are expected to uphold and recognizes the significance of appropriate and meaningful relationships.
It outlines a consistent standard of behaviour for the school community, inclusive of students, staff and parents. The Code has been developed to deliver the best possible outcomes for students, recognizing the close relationship between learning, achievement and behaviour.
The Code of Behaviour is to be used as a basis for providing:
· Positive support to promote high standards of achievement and behaviour
· Clearly articulated responses and consequences for inappropriate behaviour
Relationship to Characteristic Spirit of the School
The Holy Family School strives to promote a child friendly secure and caring environment where the talents of each child are nurtured and valued. By catering for the individual needs of all the students in as far as is practicable the school seeks to enable each student to develop his/her potential. This can best be done where there is a high level of openness and co-operation between staff, parents and pupils and where there is a clear understanding among all staff of the standards of behaviour required and of procedures adapted where there are breaches of the code.
Aims of the Code
By implementing the Code of Behaviour the Board of Management of the Holy Family School wishes to promote the following aims:
· To allow the school to function in an orderly and harmonious way
· To enhance the learning environment where students can make progress in all aspects of their development
· To create an atmosphere of respect, tolerance and consideration for others
· To facilitate the education and development of every child and promote self esteem and positive relationships
· To promote positive behaviour and self-discipline recognizing the differences between children and the need to accommodate these differences
· To ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the school community
· To assist parents and pupils in understanding the systems and procedures that form part of the Code of Behaviour and to seek their co-operation in the application of these procedures
· To ensure that the system of rules, rewards and sanctions are implemented in a fair and consistent manner
· To build positive relationships of mutual respect among students, staff and parents.
Guidelines for Behaviour in the School
The school recognizes the variety of differences that exist between children and the need to accommodate these differences. It is agreed that a high standard of behaviour requires a strong sense of community within the school and a high level of co-operation among staff and between staff, parents and pupils. Every effort will be made to ensure that the code of behaviour is implemented in a reasonable, faire and consistent manner. The limits of behaviour are clearly defined and children become familiar with the consequences of behaviour beyond these limits. The over-riding principle governing this code is respect – respect for ourselves and others and their property. The school expects the highest standards of behaviour from all the school community
Pupils Responsibilities
Pupils are expected to
· Listen to teacher and act on instructions / advice
· Listen to other pupils and await their turn to speak
· Respect the right of other pupils to learn
· Care for their own property
· Respect all school property
· Avoid behaving in any way that would endanger others
· Avoid any nasty remarks, swearing and name calling
· Include other pupils in games and activities where appropriate
· Follow school rules and class rules
· Work to the best of their ability within class / school and for homework
Teachers Responsibilities
· Support and implement the school’s code of behaviour
· Be cognisant of their duty of care
· Create a safe, welcoming environment for each pupil
· Develop and nurture a sense of self-esteem in each pupil
· Praise desirable behaviour
· Facilitate pupils to reach their full potential
· Recognize and provide for individual talents and differences among pupils
· Be courteous, consistent and fair
· Keep opportunities for disruptive behaviour to a minimum
· Deal appropriately with misbehavior
· Keep a record of serious misbehavior or repeated instances of misbehavior
· Provide support for colleagues
· Communicate with parents when necessary
· Provide reports on matters of concern
Responsibilities of Parents / Guardians
Parents / guardians are expected to:
· Encourage children to have a sense of respect for themselves, for others, for their own property and that of others
· Ensure that children attend school regularly
· Be interested in and support and encourage their children’s school work and homework and where appropriate use home/school journal
· Be familiar with and support the Code of Behaviour and other school policies
· Co-operate with teachers in instances where their child’s behaviour is causing difficulties for others
· Communicate to the school problems which may affect a child’s behaviour
· Make an appointment to meet with class teacher/principal to discuss areas of concern
Whole School Approach to Promoting Positive Behaviour
It is the policy of the Holy Family School to actively promote good behaviour. Children learn best by being rewarded. Children will be encouraged, praised and listened to at all times by adults in the school. Praise is earned by the maintenance of good standards as well as by personal achievements.
As part of our on-going efforts to promote positive behaviour, time will be allocated at some staff meetings for discussion regarding the implementation of the code. Staff will be given opportunities to share their experience of both positive and negative behaviour and to learn from collective wisdom.
To facilitate new members of staff become familiar with practices within the school, discussion regarding the implementation of the code will always form part of the first staff meeting held each September. A copy of the code will be included in all teachers’ documents. The code will also be given to parents whenever they enroll a child in the school.
Positive Strategies for Managing Behaviour
It is the policy of the Holy Family School to put in place strategies for managing behaviours within class, playground and in all areas of the school and in events outside school.
Classroom
· Each class have their own ‘ground rules / behaviour expectations’ in each class that are consistent with class teaching and which set a positive atmosphere for learning.
· Pupils will have some input in devising class rules where appropriate.
· Teachers will ensure that pupils understand and are frequently reminded of how to behave in given circumstances – to peers, visitors etc.
· Teachers will have a clear system of acknowledging and rewarding good behaviour and sanctions for misbehavior.
· To ensure that children are monitored at all times – class timetables (individual or group) will be followed.
· Each class teacher will ensure that there is a variety of activities and methodologies to sustain pupil interest and motivation
Playground
· Playground rules are distributed to all staff and posted on exit doors
· Staff (teachers and SNAs) follow rules for playground supervision
· Pupils who need extra supervision /assistance are allocated to staff members (rota)
· Playground activities are timetabled weekly for groups with teacher / SNA supervision. These include basketball, soccer, golf, dance fitness, new age curling, ball pass activities, gymnastics and sensory room activities.
· Pupils are encouraged to line up in an orderly manner when going to the playground and returning to hall (staff supervision)
· Pupils who leave playground for use of toilet or are unwell do so with teacher or SNA on duty. Teacher / SNA will inform another staff member on duty that they are leaving the playground
· Incidents of misbehavior to be reported to class teacher or teacher on duty. Where deemed necessary incidents to be recorded in incident book (Principal’s office)
Other Areas in School
· Positive strategies are implemented by all staff to ensure that pupils behave appropriately within school setting.
· Pupils are escorted to and from school transport (bus timetables) by teachers / SNAs.
· Pupils are supervised on toilet visits where appropriate
· Pupils are supervised in sensory room and at gross motor activities on school grounds.
Out of School Activities
· All pupils are supervised by class teacher / SNAs at following activities – swimming, horseriding, school tours, social outings, work experience etc.
· Senior school pupils (White Stars) are supervised on bus while travelling between main school and white star
Rewards and Sanctions
In devising the code, consideration has been given to the particular needs and circumstances of this school. The aim is to ensure that the individual needs of each child are met while acknowledging their right to education in a relatively disruption free environment.
Every effort will be made by all members of staff to adopt a positive approach to the question of behaviour in the school. The code offers a framework within which positive techniques of motivation and encouragement are utilized by staff.
The school places greater emphasis on rewards than on sanctions in the belief that this will, in the long run, give the best results. Rewards can be many and varied, depending on the pupil. Some examples of rewards used in the Holy Family School are:
Ø Positive body language – thumbs up
Ø Verbal praise – to student individually / in front of group
Ø Tangible rewards i.e. stickers, smiley faces, small sweets / fruit
Ø Conventional rewards i.e. ticks and stars on a chart
Ø Student of the week
Ø Time at a chosen activity i.e. computer, toys, books – free choice given
Ø Assembly prizes
Ø Opportunity to show work to another teacher /adult
Ø Delegate some privilege i.e. messages to another class
Ø Inform parents through school journal
Ø Reinforce and encourage good behaviour
When appropriate, pupils should be told why they are being rewarded. Tangible and conventional rewards will always be accompanied by verbal praise. In order to promote appropriate behaviour outside class situation i.e. playground etc. the Holy Family School have a playground guidelines in place for all staff. Games etc have been set up and monitored by staff in different areas to facilitate groups of students. All students are constantly supervised by staff. Where deemed necessary, some students have one to one supervision. School rotas for teachers / SNAs are strictly followed for all playground duties.
Strategies for Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 (section 23) states that a school must outline ‘The measures that may be taken if a student fails to observe the standards of behaviour that the school has outlined’
The nature of the behaviour and the age of the student will determine the nature of the strategies employed. The following strategies will be used to show disapproval or inappropriate behaviour:
· Reasoning with pupils including advising them about the consequences of their actions
· Verbal reprimand (including advice on how to improve
· Removal from the group (within the class) if constant misbehavior continues, removal from classroom to another supervised area.
· Withdrawal of privileges e.g. time out from favourite activities
· Carrying out a useful task within the school e.g. tidying the library, shelves, sorting games
· Recording instances of repeated misbehavior and referral to the Principal (3 records)
· Detention during breaks, supervised by a teacher
· Verbal / written communication with parents /guardians
· Referral to the Principal and the Chairperson or other members of the Board of Management
· Meeting with parents/ guardians
· Suspension (temporary)
The overall responsibility for discipline within the school rests with the Principal.
· Each teacher has responsibility for the maintenance of discipline within his/her classroom while sharing a common responsibility for good order within the school premises.
· Initially instances of misbehavior will be dealt with by the class teacher. This will include children being advised about their behaviour and about how to improve.
· Discussion about behaviour and its consequences will form part of SPHE lessons at all class levels.
· Teachers will actively promote good behaviour and aim to ‘catch’ repeated offenders at activities where they can give positive feedback, thus promoting better behaviour.
· Teachers shall keep a written record of all instances of serious misbehavior as well as a record of improvements in the behaviour of disruptive pupils.
· Before resorting to serious sanctions e.g. suspension, the normal channels of communication between school and parents will be utilized.
Involvement of Parents
· Parents will be involved at an early stage rather than as a last resort.
· A pupil will be referred to the Principal for serious breaches of discipline and for repeated incidents or minor misbehavior.
· Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour (physical or verbal) towards a member of staff or another child will be regarded as serious or gross misbehavior depending on circumstances.
· Communication with parents will be verbal, by school journal or by letter, depending on circumstances.
· The parents concerned will be invited to come to the school to discuss their child’s case. For gross misbehavior or repeated instances of serious misbehavior suspension will be considered.
· Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour (physical or verbal) towards a member of staff or another child will be regarded as serious or gross misbehavior, depending on circumstances.
· Help will be sought from support services within the wider community e.g. Learning
· Disability Team, Psychology Services and also Department of Education & Skills.
· Where a pupil has been suspended, and prior to returning to school, the parents and the child will be required to attend a meeting at the school to discuss: (a) Reason for suspension
(b) Seriousness of misbehavior
(c) Seriousness of the sanction
(d) How to move forward promoting positive behaviour
(e) Agree to uphold the school’s code of behaviour
Board of Management
· In the case of gross misbehavior the board shall authorize the Chairperson or the Principal to sanction an immediate suspension pending a discussion of the matter with the parents.
· Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case, in accordance with rule 130(6). (No pupil shall be struck off the rolls from breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the Board of Management and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another school)
Suspension / Expulsion
The entitlement to education is protected in a range of constitutional and legal provisions and in human rights conventions. These legal protections for the individual students right to education means that decision to suspend or expel a student are open to appeal and may be subject to judicial review by the High Court.
Schools are required, under section 23(2) of the Education Welfare Act 2000, to include their procedures for suspension and expulsion in their code of behaviour.
Suspension / Expulsions (Legal & Procedural Requirements)
Access to education shapes the life chances of children and young people in a fundamental way. For this reason, a proposal to exclude a student through suspension or expulsion, is a serious step, warranted only by very serious misbehavior.
The Board of Management and Holy Family School will:
· Ensure that all students and parents are aware of the schools policy on suspension and expulsion (copies of code of behaviour will be in introduction pack for parents when pupils start school)
· Ensure that fair procedures for expulsion and that all staff are ward of these procedures
· Ensure that fair procedures are accessible for pupils from different language and cultural backgrounds
· Ensure that Board of Management are equipped for their roles in relation to the use of suspension and expulsion
· Ensure that there are procedures for investigation and decision making
· The Board of Management and Principal will ensure that there are no undue delays in an investigation and in making decisions about the imposition of suspension and expulsion and that ‘such other reasonable measures as it considers appropriate to ensure that good order and discipline are maintained in school and safety of students is secured’ Section 24 Education Welfare Act 2000.
· Great care should be taken to ensure that all matters to do with an investigation of alleged misbehavior are dealt with in confidence. Any matters will be dealt with under fair procedure guidelines taking into account the (a) right to be heard and (b) right to impartiality.
According to the Education Welfare Act 2000 ‘A student shall not be expelled from a school before the passing of 20 school days following the receipt of a notification under this section by an Education Welfare Officer (Section 24)
Appeals
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 parents (or pupils over f18) are entitled to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills against some decisions of the Board of Management including (1) Permanent exclusion from school and (2) Suspension for a period which would bring the cumulative period of suspension to 20 school days or longer in any one school year. Appeals must be within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the school to notify parents / students was made
In formulating this code, the Board of Management considered a submission relating to the possible content of a code received from, and discussed with, the body representing the parents of the pupils attending the school. All members of the teaching staff have been involved in planning the code. A copy of this code is available to all parents.
The Holy Family School believes that the most effective schools tend to be those with good communication and co-operation with parents. Every effort will be made by the Principal and staff to ensure that parents are kept well informed and that the school provides a welcoming atmosphere for parents. Parents are not only told when their children are in trouble but also when they have behaved particularly well.
Keeping Records
In line with the school’s policy on record keeping, and data protection legislation, records in relation to pupils’ behaviour are kept in a secure filing cabinet. Records of more serious incidents are recorded in a specific journal and are retained until students reach 21 years.
Procedures for notification of pupil absence from school
Parents must notify the school in writing of a student’s absence and the reason for this absence.
Reference to other Policies
The Code of Behaviour of the Holy Family School is also linked to the following policy documents that have bearing on Code of Behaviour e.g.
· Health & Safety
· Accident Policy
· Anti Bullying
· Stay Safe and Intimate Care
· Child Protection Policy
· Enrolment Policy
Success Criteria
This policy will be deemed successful with the following are observed:
· Positive behaviour in classroom, playground and whole school environment
· Practices and procedures listed in this policy being consistently implemented by teachers
· Positive feedback from teachers, pupils and parents / guardians
Ratification
The Board of Management of the Holy Family School have reviewed and examined all aspects of this policy and agree that the policy should be ratified as a school policy.
Signed: ________________________________________
Chairperson Board of Management
Date: ________________________________________
Introduction
The Holy Family School Code of Behaviour has been devised by the Board of Management, School Principal and in consultation with all staff members. It replaces the existing school Code of Behaviour and follows guidelines issued by the National Education Welfare Board and Education Welfare Act 2000.
Rationale
The Board of Management of the Holy Family School decided to review the Behaviour Policy to ensure that it is in compliance with legal requirements and good practice as set out in Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guidelines for Schools, NEWB, 2008.
It is a requirement under the Education Welfare Act, 2000, Section 23 (1) which refers to the obligation on schools to prepare a code of behaviour in respect of the students registered at the school. It details in Section 23 (2), that the code of behaviour shall specify:
(a) The standards of behaviour that shall be observed by each student attending the school
(b) The measures that shall be taken when a student fails or refuses to observe those standards
(c) The procedures to be followed before a student may be suspended or expelled from the school concerned
(d) The grounds for removing a suspension imposed in relation to a student
(e) The procedures to be followed in relation to a child’s absence from school.
The Holy Family School’s Code of Behaviour defines the responsibilities that all members of the school community are expected to uphold and recognizes the significance of appropriate and meaningful relationships.
It outlines a consistent standard of behaviour for the school community, inclusive of students, staff and parents. The Code has been developed to deliver the best possible outcomes for students, recognizing the close relationship between learning, achievement and behaviour.
The Code of Behaviour is to be used as a basis for providing:
· Positive support to promote high standards of achievement and behaviour
· Clearly articulated responses and consequences for inappropriate behaviour
Relationship to Characteristic Spirit of the School
The Holy Family School strives to promote a child friendly secure and caring environment where the talents of each child are nurtured and valued. By catering for the individual needs of all the students in as far as is practicable the school seeks to enable each student to develop his/her potential. This can best be done where there is a high level of openness and co-operation between staff, parents and pupils and where there is a clear understanding among all staff of the standards of behaviour required and of procedures adapted where there are breaches of the code.
Aims of the Code
By implementing the Code of Behaviour the Board of Management of the Holy Family School wishes to promote the following aims:
· To allow the school to function in an orderly and harmonious way
· To enhance the learning environment where students can make progress in all aspects of their development
· To create an atmosphere of respect, tolerance and consideration for others
· To facilitate the education and development of every child and promote self esteem and positive relationships
· To promote positive behaviour and self-discipline recognizing the differences between children and the need to accommodate these differences
· To ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the school community
· To assist parents and pupils in understanding the systems and procedures that form part of the Code of Behaviour and to seek their co-operation in the application of these procedures
· To ensure that the system of rules, rewards and sanctions are implemented in a fair and consistent manner
· To build positive relationships of mutual respect among students, staff and parents.
Guidelines for Behaviour in the School
The school recognizes the variety of differences that exist between children and the need to accommodate these differences. It is agreed that a high standard of behaviour requires a strong sense of community within the school and a high level of co-operation among staff and between staff, parents and pupils. Every effort will be made to ensure that the code of behaviour is implemented in a reasonable, faire and consistent manner. The limits of behaviour are clearly defined and children become familiar with the consequences of behaviour beyond these limits. The over-riding principle governing this code is respect – respect for ourselves and others and their property. The school expects the highest standards of behaviour from all the school community
Pupils Responsibilities
Pupils are expected to
· Listen to teacher and act on instructions / advice
· Listen to other pupils and await their turn to speak
· Respect the right of other pupils to learn
· Care for their own property
· Respect all school property
· Avoid behaving in any way that would endanger others
· Avoid any nasty remarks, swearing and name calling
· Include other pupils in games and activities where appropriate
· Follow school rules and class rules
· Work to the best of their ability within class / school and for homework
Teachers Responsibilities
· Support and implement the school’s code of behaviour
· Be cognisant of their duty of care
· Create a safe, welcoming environment for each pupil
· Develop and nurture a sense of self-esteem in each pupil
· Praise desirable behaviour
· Facilitate pupils to reach their full potential
· Recognize and provide for individual talents and differences among pupils
· Be courteous, consistent and fair
· Keep opportunities for disruptive behaviour to a minimum
· Deal appropriately with misbehavior
· Keep a record of serious misbehavior or repeated instances of misbehavior
· Provide support for colleagues
· Communicate with parents when necessary
· Provide reports on matters of concern
Responsibilities of Parents / Guardians
Parents / guardians are expected to:
· Encourage children to have a sense of respect for themselves, for others, for their own property and that of others
· Ensure that children attend school regularly
· Be interested in and support and encourage their children’s school work and homework and where appropriate use home/school journal
· Be familiar with and support the Code of Behaviour and other school policies
· Co-operate with teachers in instances where their child’s behaviour is causing difficulties for others
· Communicate to the school problems which may affect a child’s behaviour
· Make an appointment to meet with class teacher/principal to discuss areas of concern
Whole School Approach to Promoting Positive Behaviour
It is the policy of the Holy Family School to actively promote good behaviour. Children learn best by being rewarded. Children will be encouraged, praised and listened to at all times by adults in the school. Praise is earned by the maintenance of good standards as well as by personal achievements.
As part of our on-going efforts to promote positive behaviour, time will be allocated at some staff meetings for discussion regarding the implementation of the code. Staff will be given opportunities to share their experience of both positive and negative behaviour and to learn from collective wisdom.
To facilitate new members of staff become familiar with practices within the school, discussion regarding the implementation of the code will always form part of the first staff meeting held each September. A copy of the code will be included in all teachers’ documents. The code will also be given to parents whenever they enroll a child in the school.
Positive Strategies for Managing Behaviour
It is the policy of the Holy Family School to put in place strategies for managing behaviours within class, playground and in all areas of the school and in events outside school.
Classroom
· Each class have their own ‘ground rules / behaviour expectations’ in each class that are consistent with class teaching and which set a positive atmosphere for learning.
· Pupils will have some input in devising class rules where appropriate.
· Teachers will ensure that pupils understand and are frequently reminded of how to behave in given circumstances – to peers, visitors etc.
· Teachers will have a clear system of acknowledging and rewarding good behaviour and sanctions for misbehavior.
· To ensure that children are monitored at all times – class timetables (individual or group) will be followed.
· Each class teacher will ensure that there is a variety of activities and methodologies to sustain pupil interest and motivation
Playground
· Playground rules are distributed to all staff and posted on exit doors
· Staff (teachers and SNAs) follow rules for playground supervision
· Pupils who need extra supervision /assistance are allocated to staff members (rota)
· Playground activities are timetabled weekly for groups with teacher / SNA supervision. These include basketball, soccer, golf, dance fitness, new age curling, ball pass activities, gymnastics and sensory room activities.
· Pupils are encouraged to line up in an orderly manner when going to the playground and returning to hall (staff supervision)
· Pupils who leave playground for use of toilet or are unwell do so with teacher or SNA on duty. Teacher / SNA will inform another staff member on duty that they are leaving the playground
· Incidents of misbehavior to be reported to class teacher or teacher on duty. Where deemed necessary incidents to be recorded in incident book (Principal’s office)
Other Areas in School
· Positive strategies are implemented by all staff to ensure that pupils behave appropriately within school setting.
· Pupils are escorted to and from school transport (bus timetables) by teachers / SNAs.
· Pupils are supervised on toilet visits where appropriate
· Pupils are supervised in sensory room and at gross motor activities on school grounds.
Out of School Activities
· All pupils are supervised by class teacher / SNAs at following activities – swimming, horseriding, school tours, social outings, work experience etc.
· Senior school pupils (White Stars) are supervised on bus while travelling between main school and white star
Rewards and Sanctions
In devising the code, consideration has been given to the particular needs and circumstances of this school. The aim is to ensure that the individual needs of each child are met while acknowledging their right to education in a relatively disruption free environment.
Every effort will be made by all members of staff to adopt a positive approach to the question of behaviour in the school. The code offers a framework within which positive techniques of motivation and encouragement are utilized by staff.
The school places greater emphasis on rewards than on sanctions in the belief that this will, in the long run, give the best results. Rewards can be many and varied, depending on the pupil. Some examples of rewards used in the Holy Family School are:
Ø Positive body language – thumbs up
Ø Verbal praise – to student individually / in front of group
Ø Tangible rewards i.e. stickers, smiley faces, small sweets / fruit
Ø Conventional rewards i.e. ticks and stars on a chart
Ø Student of the week
Ø Time at a chosen activity i.e. computer, toys, books – free choice given
Ø Assembly prizes
Ø Opportunity to show work to another teacher /adult
Ø Delegate some privilege i.e. messages to another class
Ø Inform parents through school journal
Ø Reinforce and encourage good behaviour
When appropriate, pupils should be told why they are being rewarded. Tangible and conventional rewards will always be accompanied by verbal praise. In order to promote appropriate behaviour outside class situation i.e. playground etc. the Holy Family School have a playground guidelines in place for all staff. Games etc have been set up and monitored by staff in different areas to facilitate groups of students. All students are constantly supervised by staff. Where deemed necessary, some students have one to one supervision. School rotas for teachers / SNAs are strictly followed for all playground duties.
Strategies for Responding to Inappropriate Behaviour
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 (section 23) states that a school must outline ‘The measures that may be taken if a student fails to observe the standards of behaviour that the school has outlined’
The nature of the behaviour and the age of the student will determine the nature of the strategies employed. The following strategies will be used to show disapproval or inappropriate behaviour:
· Reasoning with pupils including advising them about the consequences of their actions
· Verbal reprimand (including advice on how to improve
· Removal from the group (within the class) if constant misbehavior continues, removal from classroom to another supervised area.
· Withdrawal of privileges e.g. time out from favourite activities
· Carrying out a useful task within the school e.g. tidying the library, shelves, sorting games
· Recording instances of repeated misbehavior and referral to the Principal (3 records)
· Detention during breaks, supervised by a teacher
· Verbal / written communication with parents /guardians
· Referral to the Principal and the Chairperson or other members of the Board of Management
· Meeting with parents/ guardians
· Suspension (temporary)
The overall responsibility for discipline within the school rests with the Principal.
· Each teacher has responsibility for the maintenance of discipline within his/her classroom while sharing a common responsibility for good order within the school premises.
· Initially instances of misbehavior will be dealt with by the class teacher. This will include children being advised about their behaviour and about how to improve.
· Discussion about behaviour and its consequences will form part of SPHE lessons at all class levels.
· Teachers will actively promote good behaviour and aim to ‘catch’ repeated offenders at activities where they can give positive feedback, thus promoting better behaviour.
· Teachers shall keep a written record of all instances of serious misbehavior as well as a record of improvements in the behaviour of disruptive pupils.
· Before resorting to serious sanctions e.g. suspension, the normal channels of communication between school and parents will be utilized.
Involvement of Parents
· Parents will be involved at an early stage rather than as a last resort.
· A pupil will be referred to the Principal for serious breaches of discipline and for repeated incidents or minor misbehavior.
· Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour (physical or verbal) towards a member of staff or another child will be regarded as serious or gross misbehavior depending on circumstances.
· Communication with parents will be verbal, by school journal or by letter, depending on circumstances.
· The parents concerned will be invited to come to the school to discuss their child’s case. For gross misbehavior or repeated instances of serious misbehavior suspension will be considered.
· Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour (physical or verbal) towards a member of staff or another child will be regarded as serious or gross misbehavior, depending on circumstances.
· Help will be sought from support services within the wider community e.g. Learning
· Disability Team, Psychology Services and also Department of Education & Skills.
· Where a pupil has been suspended, and prior to returning to school, the parents and the child will be required to attend a meeting at the school to discuss: (a) Reason for suspension
(b) Seriousness of misbehavior
(c) Seriousness of the sanction
(d) How to move forward promoting positive behaviour
(e) Agree to uphold the school’s code of behaviour
Board of Management
· In the case of gross misbehavior the board shall authorize the Chairperson or the Principal to sanction an immediate suspension pending a discussion of the matter with the parents.
· Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case, in accordance with rule 130(6). (No pupil shall be struck off the rolls from breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the Board of Management and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another school)
Suspension / Expulsion
The entitlement to education is protected in a range of constitutional and legal provisions and in human rights conventions. These legal protections for the individual students right to education means that decision to suspend or expel a student are open to appeal and may be subject to judicial review by the High Court.
Schools are required, under section 23(2) of the Education Welfare Act 2000, to include their procedures for suspension and expulsion in their code of behaviour.
Suspension / Expulsions (Legal & Procedural Requirements)
Access to education shapes the life chances of children and young people in a fundamental way. For this reason, a proposal to exclude a student through suspension or expulsion, is a serious step, warranted only by very serious misbehavior.
The Board of Management and Holy Family School will:
· Ensure that all students and parents are aware of the schools policy on suspension and expulsion (copies of code of behaviour will be in introduction pack for parents when pupils start school)
· Ensure that fair procedures for expulsion and that all staff are ward of these procedures
· Ensure that fair procedures are accessible for pupils from different language and cultural backgrounds
· Ensure that Board of Management are equipped for their roles in relation to the use of suspension and expulsion
· Ensure that there are procedures for investigation and decision making
· The Board of Management and Principal will ensure that there are no undue delays in an investigation and in making decisions about the imposition of suspension and expulsion and that ‘such other reasonable measures as it considers appropriate to ensure that good order and discipline are maintained in school and safety of students is secured’ Section 24 Education Welfare Act 2000.
· Great care should be taken to ensure that all matters to do with an investigation of alleged misbehavior are dealt with in confidence. Any matters will be dealt with under fair procedure guidelines taking into account the (a) right to be heard and (b) right to impartiality.
According to the Education Welfare Act 2000 ‘A student shall not be expelled from a school before the passing of 20 school days following the receipt of a notification under this section by an Education Welfare Officer (Section 24)
Appeals
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 parents (or pupils over f18) are entitled to appeal to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills against some decisions of the Board of Management including (1) Permanent exclusion from school and (2) Suspension for a period which would bring the cumulative period of suspension to 20 school days or longer in any one school year. Appeals must be within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the school to notify parents / students was made
In formulating this code, the Board of Management considered a submission relating to the possible content of a code received from, and discussed with, the body representing the parents of the pupils attending the school. All members of the teaching staff have been involved in planning the code. A copy of this code is available to all parents.
The Holy Family School believes that the most effective schools tend to be those with good communication and co-operation with parents. Every effort will be made by the Principal and staff to ensure that parents are kept well informed and that the school provides a welcoming atmosphere for parents. Parents are not only told when their children are in trouble but also when they have behaved particularly well.
Keeping Records
In line with the school’s policy on record keeping, and data protection legislation, records in relation to pupils’ behaviour are kept in a secure filing cabinet. Records of more serious incidents are recorded in a specific journal and are retained until students reach 21 years.
Procedures for notification of pupil absence from school
Parents must notify the school in writing of a student’s absence and the reason for this absence.
Reference to other Policies
The Code of Behaviour of the Holy Family School is also linked to the following policy documents that have bearing on Code of Behaviour e.g.
· Health & Safety
· Accident Policy
· Anti Bullying
· Stay Safe and Intimate Care
· Child Protection Policy
· Enrolment Policy
Success Criteria
This policy will be deemed successful with the following are observed:
· Positive behaviour in classroom, playground and whole school environment
· Practices and procedures listed in this policy being consistently implemented by teachers
· Positive feedback from teachers, pupils and parents / guardians
Ratification
The Board of Management of the Holy Family School have reviewed and examined all aspects of this policy and agree that the policy should be ratified as a school policy.
Signed: ________________________________________
Chairperson Board of Management
Date: ________________________________________
