Procedures for
managing pupil behaviour

West Eyreton’s Safe School Vision

West Eyreton School aims to be a nurturing place where all people are respected, appreciated and understood.
 

School Code of Conduct:

Expectations: To get on well at school, and on school outings, we all take responsibility by:

1. Co-operating with each other and being friendly. (so we can work together and be happy)

2. Speaking pleasantly to others. (this sets a pleasant tone and makes everyone feel happy and secure)

3. Respecting others, and leaving them and their belongings alone.

4. Working hard. (so we can learn as much as we can)

Other rules:

5. Children are to abide by the school “Out of Bounds’ rules.

6. Children are to respect the authority of the teacher.

7. Children will abide by any other classroom rule that may be in place. They will respect the rights of those who have responsibility for the room, and behave appropriately while in the room.

8. Children will abide by school routines, arriving promptly to class, lining up quickly and quietly when required to do so, responding punctually to bells, keeping the grounds and environment tidy, and using equipment appropriately.

9. Children on school outings will show respect for the adult responsible for providing transport or supervising groups. They will be expected to follow all school behavioural expectations as if at school.

10. No physical or verbal violence is acceptable at any time.

Guidelines:

1. High standards of pupil behaviour will be expected at all times,

2. Children will regularly be made aware of school rules and expectations in terms of behaviour. They will also be informed as to the procedures that will be used when these rules are broken.

3. [School Code of Conduct will be displayed in each classroom]

4. Teachers will be vigilant to ensure appropriate behaviour. One teacher will be on duty each break.Classroom programmes will include the teaching of appropriate social skills.

5. Where inappropriate behaviours are ongoing and/or are identified as possibly causing risk to the child concerned, or to others, then parents will be informed and help may be sought from outside agencies, with the parents’ consent in writing.]

6. Where these behaviours are classified as ‘bullying’ then the ‘Procedures Against Bullying’ will be implemented. [See the same procedures for identification of bullying behaviours.]

7. When on outings away from the school, children will be made aware that normal rules and expectations apply, and that inappropriate behaviour will be dealt with in the same way as it would be at school. [Note that parents or others with responsibility for children on outings need to be aware of correct expectations and procedures. This is covered in the school’s Risk Management procedures.]

8. Consistent measures will be employed by all staff when dealing with incidents of behaviour. These will be agreed upon at staff meetings early in the school year and reviewed as necessary. Decisions will be recorded in staff meeting minutes.

Steps to be followed if there is a concern about inappropriate behaviour brought forward by another party:

1. When approached by a child about any inappropriate behaviour, the staff will implement the following procedures:

   • Listen to the child and take his or her concerns seriously.

   • Thank the child, express regret that the incident occurred, and give assurance that the incident will be dealt with appropriately. [Teachers should use professional judgement to establish the correct course of action.]

   • If necessary, determine the facts by listening to all children involved, including witnesses if helpful, and decide whether further action is required.

   • Follow up, if necessary, by implementing the appropriate school discipline measure. [See below]

2. If parents approach the school with notice of inappropriate behaviour on the part of a child or children they will be listened to, thanked for their concern, and given assurance that appropriate action will be taken. If the concern is of a serious nature then the ‘Parents’ Concern Procedures’ should be followed.

Disciplinary steps to be adopted in the case of inappropriate behaviour:

1. Incidents of a minor nature will be dealt with as deemed appropriate by the staff member who noted or was informed of the behaviour. The matter will be given serious consideration, the parties listened to, and a suitable measure taken to avoid any recurrence. If there is any doubt about the seriousness of the behaviour, then it should be recorded in the behaviour book or reported to the child’s class teacher who will decide on appropriate action. This may involve informing other staff so as they are alert to potential problems. All entries in the behaviour book will be reported at staff meetings by the staff member with this responsibility.

2. If an incident is serious [or potentially serious], or forms part of a pattern of recurring behaviour, then this should be recorded in the behaviour incident report, filed in the Behaviour Incident report, filed in the Pupil Behaviour book and reported at staff meetings. This ensures that all duty teachers are aware of behaviours and children that need watching. Where necessary, offending children will be separated from their peers for a specified time and sent to a place where they can be easily observed by teachers. If deemed necessary the child will accompany the duty teacher during breaks. These children will be reported each week at staff meetings by the teacher with this responsibility and any follow-up measures discussed and put in place. Progress reports on procedures in place for particular children may be discussed at this time too.

3. If the incident is minor and occurs in the classroom then classroom disciplinary procedures [set by the teacher for the smooth running of the class] will be implemented. These will vary according to the age of the children and the procedures in place in each class. If further measures are needed children may be:
   ~ set tasks during break times in a place easily observed by teachers.
   ~ sent to work under the guidance of another teacher.
   ~ spoken to by the Principal if it is thought necessary.
   If the incident occurs in the classroom and is of a serious nature involving the potential safety of others, then the offending child should be separated from his/her peers and if necessary taken from the class to another teacher, or to the Principal. The incident should then be dealt with at a suitable time. If the behaviour is of potential problem beyond the classroom then other staff should be notified at staff meeting times or earlier.

4. If the incident occurs while on a school outing the teacher in charge is ultimately responsible for all discipline. Teachers must inform parents of the procedures to be employed in the case of any inappropriate behaviour while on an outing as outlined in the school’s ‘Education Beyond the School Boundaries.’ procedures.

5. In the case of bullying, the school procedures for dealing with bullying will be followed. [See the school’s ‘Procedures against Bullying’.]

6. In cases of serious or repeated misconduct the Principal will authorise that the caregivers/parents be contacted. If necessary, and consent is granted by the caregivers /parents, outside agencies could be requested to assist with management of the concerning behaviour.

7. If the Principal considers that the child’s serious misconduct or continual disobedience is a harmful or dangerous example to other children at the school, or that it is likely that the child or other children at the school will be seriously harmed, then the child may be stood down or suspended from school. In this case the Principal must immediately inform the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees by telephone, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education and the child’s parents that the child has been stood down / suspended, why the child has been stood down / suspended and how long the stand down / suspension will last. All other Board members should be advised as soon as possible.

8. The MOE website for Stand-downs, Suspensions & Exclusions is: www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm This should be referred to when implementing Step 7.

9. Pupil Restraint / Removal procedure: "Reasonable force can be used to prevent a child harming others, him/herself or damaging property." (STA)
   A pupil may be restrained to prevent them causing harm to themselves, others or school property. A teacher may also need to restrain a pupil in their early days of schooling, when settling a young child into school (e.g parent leaves and child wants to go with them)
   A pupil may be removed if they are at risk of endangering themselves, others or school property.
   If Pupil restraint or removal is required the following steps will be employed by staff:

   1. The staff member involved will wherever possible, seek the support of another adult before action is taken, or if not forthcoming, as soon as support is available

   2. The incident will be documented on the Behaviour Incident Report (Annex A. below) and given to the Principal for action and / or to be filed

   3. If behaviours require it, a Behavioural Management plan (Annex B. below) can be developed for an individual student following consultation with parents/caregivers, teacher, support staff and relevant external agencies e.g. RTLB, GSE. CYFS, Riccarton Fellowship, Whakatata House etc