The school has a central role in children’s social and moral development just as it does in their academic development. In seeking to define acceptable standards of behaviour it is acknowledged that these are goals to be worked towards rather than expectations that are fulfilled or not.
The children bring to school a wide variety of behaviour. As a community environment, in school we must work towards standards of behaviour based on the basic principles of honesty, respect, consideration and responsibility. It follows that acceptable standards of behaviour are those that reflect these principles.
Children need limits set for them in order to feel secure and develop the skills for co-operation. Therefore any rules will be age appropriate, with clear agreed consequences.
Parents can co-operate with the school by encouraging their children to understand the need for school rules, by visiting the school and by talking to the members of staff.
A code of behaviour is established to ensure that the individuality of each child is accommodated while at the same time acknowledging the right of each child to education in a relatively disruption free environment.
Aims of the Code:
* To create a positive learning environment that encourages and reinforces good behaviour.
* To promote self-esteem and positive relationships
* To encourage consistency of response to both positive and negative behaviour
* To foster a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in pupils and to support good behaviour patterns based on consideration and respect for the right of others
* To facilitate the education and development of every child
* To foster caring attitudes to one another and to the environment
* To enable teachers to teach without disruption
* To ensure that the school’s expectations and strategies are widely known and understood
* To encourage the involvement of both home and school in the implementation of this policy
Responsibility of Adults:
The adults encountered by the children at school have an important responsibility to model high standards of behaviour, both in their dealings with the children and with each other, as their example has an important influence on the children.
As adults we should aim to:
* Create a positive climate with realistic expectations
* Promote, through example, honesty and courtesy
* Provide a caring and effective learning environment
* Encourage relationships based on kindness, respect and understanding of the needs of others
* Ensure fair treatment for all regardless of age, gender, race, ability and disability
* Show appreciation of the efforts and contribution of all
School Rules:
* Respect for self and others
* Respect for other’s property
* Respect other students and their learning
* Kindness and willingness to help others
* Follow instructions from staff immediately
* Walk quietly in the school building
* Courtesy and good manners
* Readiness to use respectful ways of resolving difficulties and conflict
* Raise your hand if you wish to speak
* Ask permission to leave the classroom
* Do your best in class
* Take responsibility for your own work
* Attend school in proper uniform/track suit
These can be summed up as 6 main rules;
* Respect/Be nice
* Do your best
* Be tidy
* Be safe
* Walk
* Listen
Class Rules:
At the beginning of each academic year, the class teacher will draft a list of class rules with the children. These reflect and support the school rules, but are presented in a way that is accessible to the children. Class rules should be kept to a minimum and are devised with regard for the health, safety and welfare of all members of the school community. Rules will be applied in a fair and consistent manner, with due regard to the age of the pupils and to individual difference. The use of “classroom contracts” will be encouraged. Where difficulties arise, parents will be contacted at an early stage.
Incentives:
Part of the vision of St. Patrick’s N.S. is to help children achieve their personal best – academically, intellectually and socially. We recognise that there are many different forms of intelligence and that similarly children use a variety of approaches to solve problems. All children deserve encouragement to attain their own “best”. 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 particularly noteworthy personal achievements. Rates of praise for behaviour should be as high as for work.
The following are some samples of how praise might be given;
* A quiet word or gesture to show approval
* A comment to in a pupil’s exercise book
* A visit to another member of staff or to the principal for commendation
* A word of praise in front of a group or class
* A system of merit marks or stickers
* Delegating some special responsibility or privilege
* The use of “gold time” or “homework passes”
* A mention to parent, written or verbal communication
Unacceptable Behaviour:
Three levels of misbehaviour are recognised: Minor, Serious and Gross. All everyday instances of a minor nature are dealt with by the class teacher. In cases of repeated serious misbehaviour or single instances of gross misbehaviour, parents will be involved at an early stage and invited to meet the teacher and /or the Principal to discuss their child’s behaviour.
Examples of serious misbehaviour:
* Behaviour that is hurtful (including bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation)
* Behaviour that interfered with teaching and learning
* Threats or physical hurt to another person
* Damage to property
* Theft
Examples of gross misbehaviour:
* Assault on a teacher or pupil
* Serious theft
* Serious damage to property
* Serious acts of bullying/victimisation including cyber bullying.
Sanctions:
The use of sanctions or consequences should be characterised by certain features;
* It must be clear why the sanction is being applied
* The consequence must relate as closely as possible to the behaviour
* It must be made clear what changes in behaviour are required to avoid future sanctions
* Group punishment should be avoided if possible
* There should be a clear distinction between minor and major offences
* It should be the behaviour rather than the person that is the focus
The following steps will be taken when the children behave inappropriately. They are listed in order of severity with one being for a minor misbehaviour and ten being for serious or gross misbehaviour. The list is by no means exhaustive. Teachers may put in place alternative measures bearing in mind the features by which sanctions should be characterised. The aim of any sanction is to prevent the behaviour occurring again and if necessary to help the pupils devise strategies for this.
1. Reasoning with pupil
2. Verbal reprimand including advice on how to improve
3. Temporary separation from peers within class and / or temporary removal to another class
4. Prescribing extra work/writing out the story of what happened (incident report)
5. Loss of privileges
6. Detention during break
7. Communication with parents
8. Referral to Principal
9. Principal communicating with parents
10. Exclusion (suspension or expulsion) from school (in accordance with Rule 130 of the Rules of National Schools as amended by circular and Education Welfare Act 2000)
However sanctions should relate as closely as possible to the behaviour. Therefore a child, who does not do his work in class or has not completed his homework, may be detained at break time to finish the work.
Pupils will not be deprived of engagement in a Curricular Area, except on the grounds of health and safety.
Suspension and Expulsion:
Before serious sanctions such as suspension or expulsion are used, the normal channels of communication between school and parents will be utilised.
For gross misbehaviour or repeated instance of serious misbehaviour suspension may be considered. Parents concerned will be invited to come to the school to discuss their child’s case. Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour towards a teacher or pupil will be regarded as serious or gross misbehaviour.
Where there are repeated instances of serious misbehaviour, the chairperson of the Board of Management will be informed and the parents will be requested in writing to attend at the school to meet the chairperson and the principal. If the parents do not give an undertaking that the pupil will behave in an acceptable manner in the future the pupil may be suspended for a period. Prior to suspension, where possible, the principal may review the case in consultation with teachers and other members of the school community involved, with due regard to records of previous misbehaviours, their pattern and context, sanctions and other interventions used and their outcomes and any relevant medical information. Suspension will be in accordance with the Rules of National Schools and the Education Welfare Act 2000.
In the case of gross misbehaviour, where it is necessary to ensure that order and discipline are maintained and to secure the safety of the pupils, the Board may authorise the chairperson or principal to sanction an immediate suspension for a period not exceeding three school days, pending a discussion of the matter with the parents.
Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case, in accordance with the Rule for National Schools and the Education Welfare Act 2000. Before suspending or expelling a pupil, the Board shall notify the Local Welfare Education Officer in writing in accordance with Section 24 of the Education Welfare Act.
Removal of Suspension (reinstatement):
Following or during a period of suspension, the parent(s) may apply to have the pupil reinstated to the school. The parent(s) must give a satisfactory undertaking that a suspended pupil will behave in accordance with the school code and the principal must be satisfied that the pupil’s reinstatement will not constitute a risk to the pupil’s own safety or that of the other pupils or staff. The principal will facilitate the preparation of a behaviour plan for the pupil if required and will re-admit the pupil formally to the class.
Children with Special Needs:
All children are required to comply with the code of behaviour. However the school recognises that children with special needs may require assistance in understanding certain rules. Specialised behaviour plans may be put in place in consultation with parents and the class teacher, learning support/resource teacher and or principal will work closely with home to ensure that optimal support is given. Cognitive development will be taken into account at all times. Professional advice form psychological assessments will be invaluable.
The children in the class or school may be taught strategies to assist a pupil with special needs adhere to the rules and thus provide peer support. This will be done in a supportive and safe way, acknowledging and respecting the difference in all individuals.
Methods of Communicating with Parents:
Communicating with parents is central to maintaining a positive approach to dealing with children. Parents and teachers should develop a joint strategy to address specific difficulties, in addition to sharing a broader philosophy which can be implemented at home and in school.
A high level of co-operation and open communication is seen as an important factor encouraging positive behaviour in the school. Structures and channels designed to maintain a high level of communication among staff and between staff, pupils and parents have been established and are being reviewed regularly.
Parents should be encouraged to talk in confidence to teachers about any significant developments in a child’s life, in the past or present, which may affect the child’s behaviour.
The following methods are to be used at all levels within the school:
* Informal parent/teacher meetings and formal parent/teacher meetings
* Through children’s homework journal (infants do not have a homework journal – check bags)
* Letters/notes from school to home and from home to school
* School website
* Regular newsletter
Ratified by Board of Management ______________
Date
Signed: _______________________________
Chairperson, Board of Management
Reminder Letter to Parents re Code of Behaviour:
Dear Parent(s)/ Guardian(s),
Please talk to your child and remind him/her of the importance of keeping the following rule/rules:
* Behaving in class
* Behaving in yard
* Rough play
* Listening and paying attention
* Having respect for all members of the school community
* Having respect for school property, their won belongings and others
* School uniform/track suit
Teacher’s comments:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signed: _______________________ Date: _________________
I have talked to my child about the above rules and he/she promises to try harder.
Signed: ______________________________ (Parent/Guardian)