Code of Behaviour

/Code of Behaviour
Code of Behaviour 2017-11-27T20:13:16+00:00

Code of Behaviour

Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B)

Rationale:

The code of behaviour of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B) is being reviewed

  • to place more emphasis on a whole school approach to behaviour management in the school
  • to ensure that all pupils can learn and work in an orderly environment

Aims:

  • to provide parallel commitment to pastoral care of staff and pupils
  • to create an atmosphere of human respect, tolerance, dignity, consideration and fair treatment of others, where everybody feels valued.
  • To allow the school to function in an orderly way where (i) children can develop fully and (ii) staff can carry out their functions fully.
  • To promote self-discipline and positive behaviour, recognising the difference between pupils and the need to accommodate these differences.
  • To ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff members.
  • To ensure that the pupils understand the code of behaviour
  • To ensure that the system of rules, rewards and sanctions are implemented in a fair and consistent manner throughout the school.

Guidelines for behaviour of pupils in Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B)

The guidelines are based on 4 fundamental principles. All pupils will:

1] Respect the school and the whole school community:

{a} Respect fellow pupils

  • show them consideration, courtesy and civility
  • wait one’s turn
  • respect their own belongings and those of other children
  • respect their privacy e.g. the use of camera phones

Pupils will not

  • annoy or call other pupils names
  • threaten / intimidate other pupils
  • use insulting or coarse language to other pupils

{b} Respect members of the school staff:

  • show consideration, courtesy and civility to their teachers, to school staff and to all adults in the school.
  • be truthful and honest
  • obey and follow instructions from all members of staff

Pupils will not:

  • use insulting or coarse language to any adult
  • interrupt lessons or schoolwork
  • back-answer, show disrespect, threaten any member of staff

{c} respect the school, school property and equipment

  • use waste bins
  • get rid of their rubbish properly
  • carefully look after school equipment, library books and books rented out on the school rental scheme
  • wear the school uniform at all times (except on P.E. and No Uniform days)

pupils will not:

  • interfere with, or damage in any way, the buildings and furniture
  • write on, or deface in any way, school property, furnishings or the school building

2] Behave and not do anything that could cause danger to themselves or to any other member of the school community

  • abide by classroom and playground rules
  • be well behaved and obey instructions from teachers and SNAs       (i) in the classroom, (ii) on the corridors and stairs, (iii) in the school playground
  • pupils will not: use violence by:
    • pushing
    • hitting
    • kicking
    • wrestling
    • biting
    • using headlocks
  • pupils will not carry items that could cause harm or lead to dangerous situations

3] Work to the best of his ability

  • attend school regularly and to be punctual
  • work carefully and neatly
  • listen attentively and participate to the best of his ability in all class activities
  • complete class work and homework regularly and to the best of his ability
  • bring a note of explanation following any absence
  • possess the school journal at all times and have it examined and signed regularly by parents/ guardians

4] Have a right to education and no child has a right to interfere with another child’s education

  • recognise the right of other children in his class to work and learn without disruption or hassle
  • help other children whenever possible

pupils will not:

  • behave in a manner which hampers or prevents the normal work of the class, e.g. repeatedly interrupting, making noises.

Whole school approach to promoting positive behaviour

1] The staff of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B):

  • has a consistent, supportive culture among all of its members in solving behaviour problems
    • empathy among all the staff,
    • senior members of staff support time-out for disruptive pupils
    • all staff adopt a duty of care even when not in a supervisory capacity.
    • all staff remind, encourage, direct, confront pupils about appropriate / inappropriate behaviour
  • agrees among all of its members regarding behaviour management
    • behaviours that are unacceptable
    • applying clear consequences/punishments for the various levels   of misbehaviour and when pupils refuse or abuse corrective discipline (appendix 3)
  • focuses as a team on applying positive strategies for managing behaviour :

           prevent/minimise unnecessary behaviour problems in the:

(i) classroom by– establishing ground rules in the first few weeks of the year (appendix 1)

reminding pupils regularly of these rules

discussing with pupils the need for rules – safety rules, consideration for others,

discussing with pupils their responsibilities in class (appendix 2) and how they’re obliged to treat others and visa versa – SPHE, religion, informal problem solving

sustaining pupils interest by using a variety of activities and teaching methodologies

(ii) corridor by – establishing a lining up procedure in the first few weeks of the year,       discussing safety rules

(iii) stairs by –     supervision by post-holders, discussing safety rules

(iv) playground by – establishing ground rules in the first few weeks (app. 1)

reminding pupils regularly of these rules

discussing with pupils their responsibilities in the playground (appendix 2)

dividing play area into 3 sections (junior, middle, senior classes) for close supervision and clear visibility of children at play

teacher rota system and daily supervision by SNAs in each play area

having organised playground games

provision of benches for quiet activities

group rota of games in the hall during lunch break

close supervision of certain pupils in area beside middle class playground, games supervised by SNA

reporting incidents of misbehaviour: less serious incidents are reported to the class teacher, serious incidents are recorded in the incident book and appropriate follow up action is taken

(v) wet day supervision by- organising a rota of teachers and SNAs

allowing pupils play suitable games??

(vi) morning by- teachers with posts of responsibility and SNAs supervising outside lining-up areas and ground floor corridor of old building from 8.35 to 8.50am

supervising in foyer of new building on wet-days

  • encourage positive and responsible behaviour – pupils know rights and responsibilities
  • uses the SPHE curriculum to support the code of behaviour- improve ways of interacting, conflict resolutions skills, fosters self-esteem, develops citizenship, etc.

The content of the curriculum is laid out in the SPHE school plan

2] Board of Management of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh(B):

The Principal and staff representative will consult with the BOM when reviewing the code of behaviour and take on board any suggestions, alterations or addenda which it may have.

The BOM supports the staff in implementing the code of behaviour by:

  • affirming the day-to-day actions of the staff in promoting good and positive behaviour
  • affirming the steps taken by the staff to deal with misbehaviour
  • providing opportunities for staff development – seminars, courses, study of literature
  • assisting in dealing with serious breaches of behaviour. The procedure for this is:
    1. The principal informs the BOM of the breach of behaviour.
    2. Details of the incident(s) are discussed at a board meeting. Strict privacy is adhered to.
    3. Decision is made as to how the problem is to be solved – existing school procedures, outside intervention, role of the parents/guardians.

3] Parents of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B)

In formulating this code of behaviour, the BOM 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.

Parents of newly enrolled children will be informed about the code of behaviour and how they can support it (i) during the school open day, (ii) through the school website, (iii) through the school journal

Cooperation between staff and parents is encouraged through

  • annual parent – teacher meetings
  • communication through the pupils’ school journals
  • informal meetings before, after school.

 

Parents support the school in promoting positive behaviour and maintaining high standards of behaviour by:

  • reading and signing the code of behaviour in the school journal at the beginning of each school year
  • being aware of, and cooperating with the system of rewards and sanctions in the school
  • ensuring children are in time for school
  • helping and encouraging children with homework and ensuring that it is completed
  • ensuring that children have the necessary books and materials for school

4] Pupils of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B)

Pupils, with the teachers’ guidance, will discuss classroom, playground and general school rules

  • particularly in the first few weeks of the new school year
  • when behavioural problems arise
  • when any pupil has an issue. Aspects include:
  • the need for school rules
  • protecting our rights and the rights of others
  • rules and responsibilities

Rewards and Sanctions:

The emphasis by the staff of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B) is on positive good behaviour which is recognised and acknowledged in the classroom, playground, etc

Where misbehaviour occurs the degree of misbehaviour will be judged by the teachers and/or principal based on a common sense approach with regard to the gravity/frequency of misbehaviour (appendix 3)

Appendix 1

In Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B) we have rules to protect our rights and to encourage us to be

responsible. We have both rules for our classrooms and for times when we are out of class.

Rules in class Rules out of class
We speak kindly   and respectfully to others in our class

We put up our hands to speak

We do not shout in class

We do not use bad or hurtful language

Talking We speak kindly and respectfully to all we meet outside our class

We do not use bad language

We do not harass

We line up quietly in the playground

We work quietly

We help each other

We take turns to answer and do not interrupt

We put up our hands to get attention or help

We respect other’s opinions

Learning We cooperate with others

We share the playground

We come to school on time

We move quietly in our room

We put things away carefully

We line up and move quietly and safely between rooms

Movement We take care when we are moving about or playing outside

We do not run in the corridor, on the stairs nor in the playground

We stay in our own part of the playground

We look after equipment

We respect each other

We are kind to each other

We are considerate and look out for each other

We use good manners

We do not harass nor make other pupils feel small

Treatment We respect each other

We are kind to each other

We play friendly games

We allow others into our games

We do not harass others

We try to solve problems in a fair manner

We do not get aggressive

If the problem is hard we ask a teacher for help

Problem solving We talk to each other and try to work problems out.

If we need help we ask a teacher

Appendix 2

 

At Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh(B) everybody has responsibilities. We all need to care about ourselves, about other students, about teachers and all who work in our school, about parents and all who visit, as well as about our school and equipment.

Responsibilities
To listen To be polite To have a go
To help To make time for others To be honest
To try our best To be on time To look after each other
To discuss To help others understand To work and play safely
To encourage To help others belong To share equipment
To share time To cooperate To ask for help
To try and work out problems in a fair manner To ask for opinions and ideas

 

Appendix 3

Levels of behaviour management in Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh (B)

Behaviour management
Level Pupil behaviour Teacher action Extra support
1 Respects the rights of others, is cooperative, good self-discipline, works to the best of his ability Positively reinforce pupil’s behaviour, appropriate comments and specific feedback (acknowledgement, give responsibility ) Other teachers recognise pupil’s positive behaviour
2 Basically respects the rights of others, but has a problem of self-esteem. Shows some frustration and low concentration levels. Causes minor disruptions – annoying and rude to other, infrequent / no homework, incorrect / no equipment Discuss work / behaviour with pupil, seek solutions. Behaviour contract, note in journal for home support. Discuss consequences Action may include: extra work, extra homework (reason included; to be signed by parent/guardian), and warning that sanctions may be imposed. Pupil must make apology (to victim). Establish routines, reinforce success Help from principal and staff in defining problem and applying a solution
3 Persistently violates the rights of others in a minor way – regularly interruptive, harasses / annoys others, fidgets and moves about, poor attitude to learning and work, unresponsive and rude in class Record incidents of misbehaviour. Cooling off time in class for set period – pupil thinks about / records behaviour. Action may include:loss of privilege, booking (for repeated or serious misbehaviour), inform parents / guardians, behaviour contract, detention, time out in other class, cconfiscation of offending item (causing distraction/ danger or interfering with privacy) to be returned via parents.. Consult with support teachers Help from senior teachers, learning support teachers with time out for set period(s)
4 Continually infringes the rights of others – verbal or physical assault, destroys / takes equipment, intimidation, disruption, refuses to follow instructions, defiant. Continued deterioration in behaviour, refusing / ignoring any attempts to help Incidents of misbehaviour recorded, and filed. Information passed to all staff (confidentiality maintained). Parents / guardians contacted. Action includes time out for longer periods, detention, no playground privileges, behaviour contract and daily behaviour reports; pupil must make restitution (in the case of damage/ theft/ defacement of property). Temporary suspension Must involve help from principal and staff – Principal sends note to parents

Longer periods of time out.

Principal sends for parents.

5 Seriously and continually violates the rights of others and shows no sign of wanting to change – abusive, poor / negative effect on other pupils, dangerous, uncooperative and uncontrollable. Teacher refers problem directly to principal. After discussion with parents / guardians pupil may be suspended Principal sends note to parents/guardians

Principal sends for parents

Principal advises parents of the possibility of suspension

Principal asks BOM to suspend pupil