Positive Behaviour Policy
Including Bullying and Peer on Peer Abuse

Part 1 – What excellent learning behaviours and social skills do we expect all students and staff to achieve?

Our school vision is to provide:

A school in which we learn together and respect individuality. A place in which we are determined that everyone will reach their full potential within a safe, inclusive and stimulating environment; where enjoyment and creativity are priorities enabling all to become independent life-long learners.

To achieve our school vision we strive to create a caring ethos where everyone in the school community feels safe, confident, valued and respected, and we work together in a supportive way that enables all to reach their full potential, emotionally, socially and intellectually. The primary aim of our behaviour policy is to teach and promote positive characteristics in all children towards learning and behaviour. These characteristics are embodied in our 'Teaching and Learning Policy', embody fundamental British values1 and are supported by the whole school 'Diamond Rules' which are as follows:

Show good manners at all times.

Follow instructions with thought and care.

Care for everyone and everything.

This policy is designed to promote good behaviour rather than merely deter anti-social behaviour. Staff do not ignore unacceptable behaviour, have high expectations, are good role models and reward pupils to promote positive learning and behaviour. Our school has an emotional coaching approach as all staff are eager to gain an understanding of the behaviours displayed to ensure we analyse with care and thought so the appropriate support and action is taken. We seek to understand the reasons for behavioural choices and educate emotionally to promote positive levels of engagement and understanding.

Part 2 – How do we teach these skills and behaviours?

The Headteacher will:

• Implement the school positive behaviour policy consistently throughout the school by setting the standards of behaviour and supporting staff in the implementation of the policy.
• Keep records of all reported serious incidents of misbehaviour.
• Report to Governors, when requested, on the effectiveness of the policy.
• Ensure the health, safety and welfare of all the children in the school.
• Report to/meet with parents/carers when necessary.
• Be aware of and understand his/her rights and responsibilities.

The Headteacher has the responsibility for giving fixed-term suspensions to individual children for serious acts of misbehaviour. The Headteacher may permanently exclude a child for repeated, or very serious, acts of anti-social behaviour. This action is only taken after the school governors have been notified.

All staff will:

• Be a positive role model.
• Engage in emotional coaching to support all children appropriately.
• Implement the school positive behaviour policy consistently throughout the school.
• Give opportunities to develop interpersonal and social skills.
• Offer a curriculum that enables pupils to engage.
• Give the opportunity to work in groups.
• Make sure that pupils listen are listened to and value others.
• Help pupils to gain the ability to make choices about their behaviour.
• Help pupils to be confident about their learning and enjoy it.
• Help pupils understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens in our society.
• Reward and praise positive learning behaviour.
• Keep records of behaviour and report these to the headteacher when required.
• Ensure the pupils in the class know the whole school 'Diamond Rules'.
• Inform parents about their child’s welfare or behaviour and, where necessary, work alongside parents.
• Be aware of and understand their rights and responsibilities.

Pupils will:

• Respect and care for others.
• Listen to others.
• Learn and work co-operatively.
• Obey the 'Diamond Rules'.
• Resolve disputes positively.
• Value and take responsibility of the environment.
• When necessary carry out self-monitoring.
• Be aware of their own emotions and actions and take responsibility for these.
• Be aware of and understand their rights and responsibilities.

Parents, Carers and Families will:

• Support the school when reasonable actions to discipline a child have been used.
• Promote positive behaviour at home in order to maintain continuity between home and school.
• Initially contact the class teacher if they have concerns about the way their child has been treated.
• If concerns remain, contact the headteacher and then if necessary the school governors.
• Initially contact the class teacher if they feel their child’s behaviour, in or out of school, is impacting on the child’s emotional well-being.
• Be aware of and understand their rights and responsibilities.

The Governing Committee will:

• Support the school in the implementation of the positive behaviour policy.
• Provide advice about disciplinary issues, as requested by the headteacher, so that he/she can take advice into account when making decisions about repeated, or very serious, acts of anti-social behaviour.
• Review the effectiveness of the policy.

Part 3 – How we maintain high expectations

Rights and Responsibilities

Staff should:

• Be supported by peers and managers, ask for support when needed and offer support to colleagues and managers.
• Use emotional coaching methods to support children and always seek to understand why events took place.
• Be listened to, listen to others and share opinions in a constructive manner. • Be treated courteously by all others in the school community and model courteous behaviour.
• Recognise and acknowledge positive behaviour in others.
• Be made fully aware of the school’s system, policies and expectations.
• Seek information and use lines of communication.
• Receive appropriate training to increase skills in behaviour management.
• Support others in developing their skills in promoting positive behaviour.
• Acknowledge areas of their own behaviour management skills that could be developed and evaluate new approaches.

Pupils should:

• Be treated with respect and behave respectfully to others.
• Be safe to behave in a way that keeps others and self safe.
• Be willing to learn and allow others to learn.
• Attend school regularly.
• Be allowed to make mistakes, own mistakes and learn from them.
• Allow others to make mistakes.
• Be listened to and listen to others, giving opinions in a constructive manner.

Parents, Carers and families should:

• Be treated with respect and behave respectfully towards others.
• Be kept informed about their child’s progress and talk to teachers if they have any concerns about their child’s learning and wellbeing.
• Talk to their child about what he/she does in school.
• Ensure their child attends school regularly.
• Be listened to and listen to others.
• Have access to information on the school’s procedures for positive behaviour.
• Acknowledge and respond to information, have concerns taken seriously and to share concerns constructively.

¹ Fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (DFE Teachers' Standards, July 2011).

Part 4 – The Use of Sanctions to Improve Behaviour

Rewards

All children will have equal access to rewards. To reinforce positive characteristics of learning and behaviour we will use:

• Verbal praise
• Stickers
• Class Dojo Points
• Diamond Certificates
• Displays to share examples of excellent progress
• Sharing excellent progress with the school community, e.g. newsletter, Tapestry/Dojo
• Class assemblies
• Star of the Day
• Weekly celebration assemblies, which reward children for displaying SECRET Skills in their learning
• Whole Class Rewards – chosen by the class and teachers

Sanctions and Support

As an inclusive school we will support all children in acquiring the skills required to demonstrate positive characteristics of learning and behaviour. These skills will be taught through:

• Consistent use of sanctions by all adults, which encourage children to take responsibility for their actions and "repair the harm they have caused" through restorative justice.
• Specific support by trained staff for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Rewarding children for demonstrating positive characteristics of behaviour and learning.

Where unacceptable behaviour occurs at any time during the school day, the following procedures will be followed:

Stage	Example of Behaviour	Sanctions	Support
			Thrive	'Building Learning Power' Characteristics of Learning
1	Talking in class or assembly Running inside school Calling out in class Losing concentration Swinging on chair Bad manners or rudeness Pushing in line Silly noises Ignoring instructions	Quiet reminder Non-verbal signals, e.g. eye contact Change of seating Praising others who are demonstrating positive behaviour	Class screening	The following characteristics of learning and are taught and promoted throughout the school to support positive learning behaviours and develop independent life-long learners: asking interesting questions checking what they are told thinking on their feet designing their own learning making good use of resources harnessing their imagination unearthing new problems being bold and trying new things helping themselves when they are stuck checking and improving their own work seeking and valuing feedback working well in different groups listening and watching attentively concentrating despite distractions. These learning behaviours support life-long learners in developing resilience, resourcefulness, reflectiveness and reciprocity.
2	Persistent stage 1 behaviour Affecting other pupils' learning Inappropriate remarks to other pupils Damaging school or personal property Leaving class without permission Harmful/offensive name calling Minor challenge to authority	Parents informed of behaviour Behaviour recorded in behaviour log Correct/repair damage, e.g. apology, helping other pupils	Individual screening
3	Persistent stage 2 behaviour  Persistent swearing Fighting Violence Continued or more serious challenge to authority Repeated refusal to do set task	As stage 2 and: Sent to the Headteacher Loss of privileges	Individual intervention planned
4	Persistent stage 3 behaviour  Highly offensive remarks towards others Racism Sexism Homophobia Bullying Stealing Leaving school without permission Very serious challenge to authority	As stage 3 and: Headteacher meets with parents (perpetrator and victim) Loss of privileges Separation from peers (internal exclusion)
5	Persistent stage 4 behaviour  Intentional physical harm to others Malicious physical harm on another pupil	As stage 4 and: Exclusion for a fixed term
6	Persistent stage 5 behaviour	Governor disciplinary sub-committee convened Permanent exclusion from school

(N.B. This is not an exhaustive list of behaviour.)

Pupils with special needs, especially those with individual plans which include statements about behaviour will often need a programme of additional strategies to meet their needs.

All the above sanctions are put in place at the discretion of the Headteacher and the context and the child’s needs will be fully taken into account when sanctions are applied. We recognise that some children find some behaviour difficult and where this has been identified a ‘Behaviour Plan’ will be created in liaison with outside agencies.

Part 5 – The Use of Exclusion as a Sanction

Exclusion

The Dfe statutory guidance procedures will be followed for fixed term and permanent exclusions. The Headteacher has the responsibility for giving fixed-term exclusions to individual children for serious acts of misbehaviour. If there are serious and ongoing concerns over a pupil’s behavior, the head teacher will arrange a governor review panel meeting to discuss.

The Headteacher may permanently exclude a child for repeated behaviours not following the school rules, or very serious, acts of anti-social behaviour. School governors and the LA will be notified. If the Headteacher is absent the Deputy Headteacher has the authority to make this decision and report to the Headteacher and Chair of Governors as soon as possible.

Part 6 – Guidance for a selection of specific incidents

Peer on Peer Abuse as stated in KCSIE

All staff should be aware that children can abuse other children (often referred to as peer on peer abuse).

• Bullying (including cyberbullying);

Definition - Bullying is “Behaviour by an individual or a group, ongoing and repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally”.

Forms of bullying can happen to anyone and may take the following forms:

PHYSICAL: punching, kicking, hitting, pinching, threats, any form of violence.

VERBAL: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, persistent teasing.

EMOTIONAL: making faces; tormenting, threatening ridicule, humiliation, exclusion from groups or activities.

RACIAL: racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.

SEXUAL: unwanted physical contact, abusive comments, or homophobic taunts.

Peer on Peer Abuse can also include, but may not be limited to:

• physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm;
• sexual violence, such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault;
• sexual harassment, such as sexual comments, remarks, jokes and online sexual harassment, which may be stand-alone or part of a broader pattern of abuse;
• upskirting, which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without them knowing, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm;
• sexting (also known as youth produced sexual imagery);
• initiation/hazing type violence and rituals.

Cyberbullying:

This can include: threatening, intimidating or upsetting text messages; threatening or embarrassing pictures and video clips via mobile phone cameras; silent or abusive phone calls or using the victim’s phone to harass others, to make them think the victim is responsible; threatening or bullying emails, possibly sent using a pseudonym or someone else’s name; menacing or upsetting responses to someone in a chat-room; unpleasant messages sent during instant messaging; unpleasant or defamatory information posted to blogs, personal websites and social networking sites (e.g. Facebook)

At Dobwalls, cyber bullying is considered as serious as any other form of bullying. Parents will be contacted if the school are made aware of cyber bullying taking place off-site. In some cases, this type of bullying may constitute a criminal offence.

Any of the above, will not be tolerated at Dobwalls Primary School.

Procedures and Consequences

All pupils will be encouraged to be open with members of staff and their parents, who can pass on concerns to school. There are mechanisms such as “worry boxes” in the school where pupils can discreetly report concerns to adults. Children must have the confidence in all staff, teaching and non-teaching, to disclose an incident without feeling that it will be dismissed by that member of staff.

Whenever a disclosure is made by a child or parent, or identified by an adult, it will be investigated thoroughly as follows:

1. Incident is reported to, or identified by, a member of staff. Class teachers to keep a log of incidents. These are recorded on a central file, accessible by all staff on the behaviour folder – the k drive.
2. All incidents will be referred to a senior member of staff.
3. All parties involved will be interviewed separately and a written record made on My Concern which is reported to the head teacher. Information from witnesses will be obtained.
4. Parents, will be informed (at the Headteacher’s discretion) and may be asked to come to school to discuss the problem.
5. The behaviours must immediately stop.
6. The individual is made aware of what his/her behaviour has done to the victim.
7. The individual will offer an apology and other appropriate consequences may take place. In serious cases, exclusion will be considered. Whenever possible, the pupils will be reconciled.
8. Support will be offered to the victim and efforts made to help re-establish their self-confidence.

Methods of Prevention

Each child in the school will take part in a yearly understanding of the school rules and worry boxes created in each class.

• Each child and parent will sign a school contract, which sets out expectations of behaviour.
• School Council will discuss
• One Decision lessons - through the curriculum
• Bullying is covered through the curriculum, this may take the form of role play, drama, literature, poetry or stories.
• Peer on peer abuse will also be addressed and reinforced through assemblies, R.E, during Anti-Bullying week each year and Children’s Mental Health Week.

Signs and Symptoms

Children will not always be prepared to tell those in authority. Staff may need to use their knowledge of a pupil to identify changes in their behaviour that might indicate peer on peer abuse. All adults should be aware that these are possible signs and should investigate if a child:

• is frightened of walking to or from school
• is unwilling to go to school
• begins to do poorly in school work
• becomes withdrawn
• regularly has books or clothes destroyed
• becomes distressed, stops eating
• has nightmares
• becomes disrupted or aggressive
• has possessions go ‘missing’ and money ‘lost’
• starts stealing money (to pay bully)
• is frightened to say what’s wrong

Offensive Weapons

1. Any student bringing an offensive weapon, particularly a knife, into school will be excluded. The length of that exclusion is to be determined by the school leadership team, bearing in mind the DFE guidance.
2. The DfE Exclusion Guidance as an appendix to the Behaviour Policy of all schools in the MAT.
3. Clear procedures in the policy around exclusion based on the above
4. Clear contact details for the senior member of staff whose role it is to deal with serious behaviour incidents.

Clear contact details for parents who wish to contact the school in an out-of-hours emergency (monitoring of any answer phone or email address set up for this purpose needs to be clearly assigned to a relevant role)

Part 7 – Continuous Improvement

Training

Training is essential for all staff to learn how to manage emotional and behavioural difficulties. Whole staff training initiatives ensure a consistent whole school approach.