Behaviour
Higher Openshaw Community School is an inclusive school. We are committed to promoting respect, fairness and social inclusion and these principles are underlying within the behaviour policy. We are committed to improving outcomes for our children and staff and promoting good relations across the whole school community.
We believe that every individual should be supported to succeed within their education through a safe, caring and calm environment where patience, tolerance, and respect for others is taught and fostered. We believe it is really important that we nurture and promote the behaviours linked to our core school values and ethos of Higher Openshaw Community School.
We have simple but important values, which are taught, discussed and explored with pupils and parents and are displayed prominently around school. We explore the importance of our values through lessons, assemblies and day-to-day practice.
We teach children that as a member of Higher Openshaw Community School:
Behaviour Management
Higher Openshaw Community School uses a tracking system for managing behaviour in the classroom. The tracking system is split into six sections and is built around positive phrases (in a child-friendly format), which highlight and identify what is expected of the pupils. We believe that talking about behaviour is important in building an understanding of good behaviour. We do not believe that public shaming is an effective behaviour management tool- therefore only positive behaviour choices are displayed. Every child starts their school day being 'Ready to Learn'.
In EYFS and KS1, pupils have individual pegs to display and highlight their positive choices. In KS2, classrooms will display the terms “Ready to Learn”, “Good choices” and “Role-model” to remind pupils of positive choices. Staff in KS2 keep track of which section children are working in throughout the day.
We teach children that it is OK to make mistakes!
'Make a Change' group is a short session, ran by a teacher, and is a chance for children to discuss their feelings and explore what choices they made, and the impact it had on them and others. Children talk about the steps they have taken to make a positive change throughout the week. The session is not a consequence, and is a teaching tool to guide children to Be Ready, Respectful, Resilient and Safe in school.
Rewards & Sanctions
It is recognised that on occasions sanctions may be necessary to demonstrate that seriously inappropriate behaviour is unacceptable; to express the disapproval of the community; and to deter other pupils from similar behaviour. The Board of Governors will monitor the School in this regard.
It is recognised that sanctions will enable the pupil to reflect upon and learn from their behaviour and make reparation wherever possible. Because of the focus on positive behaviours and the opportunities for pupils to learn from their mistakes, the Board of Governors expects lower than the national average rates of exclusion.
Some pupils, for example those with special educational needs, physical or mental health needs can experience particular difficulties with behaviour and the School will seek to ensure that such pupils receive behavioural support according to their need. However, when making decisions the School must balance the needs of the individual with those of the School community and where pupil behaviour places others at risk, the safety of the pupil body as a whole is paramount.
The Governing Body works with all members of the School community to understand the pupils and their circumstances and believe this relationship is an important part in building a strong learning community.
The behaviours we expect to see are made clear to the children on a regular basis. These are recognised and rewarded in a variety of ways. However, where children make inappropriate choices or behave in a way that is not acceptable, the approach to resolving that is clearly and consistently followed across the school. Whilst our approach is consistent, the consequence given might vary as there is not a 'one size fits all' model. We train our staff and senior leaders to explore the severity of the behaviour, the child's individual needs and the context in which the behaviour has taken place when deciding on the most appropriate consequence.
If you are ever concerned about the behaviour of a child, we would encourage you to speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance. If you are not able to resolve your concerns then you can contact one of our senior members of the Leeadership Team.
- Mr Dent- Headteacher
- Mr Thackway - Deputy Headteacher
- Mrs Mellor - Assistant Headteacher
- Mrs Hutchinson - Safeguarding Lead & Attendance
At Higher Openshaw Community School, we believe the focus should be on the positive. Therefore, we try to separate the behaviour from the child and ensure they understand every day is a fresh start and they are loved no matter what. Relationships matter and this is why our approach goes beyond simply maintaining an orderly and compliant school.
Principles
- Every child has the right to learn but no child has the right to disrupt the learning of others
- Everyone has a right to be listened to, to be valued, to feel and be safe. Everyone must be protected from disruption or abuse
- Higher Openshaw Community School is an inclusive school; all members of the school community should be free from discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010
- It is expected that all adults – staff, volunteers and governors – will set excellent examples to the children at all times
- We seek to give every child a sense of personal responsibility for his/her own actions
- The school’s Behaviour Policy will ensure that there are measures to encourage good behaviour, self-discipline and respect, and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils; it also provides guidance on use of reasonable force
- Where there are significant concerns over a pupil’s behaviour, the school will work with parents and carers to strive for common strategies between home and school
- The school will seek advice and support from appropriate outside agencies where concerns arise over a child’s behaviour
- The school’s Behaviour Policy will clearly reflect the school’s approach to exclusions
- Where necessary additional plans to support children with specific behaviour needs will be put in place to make every effort to support children to have every chance of being successful.
- The school will fulfil its’ legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of safeguarding, children with special educational needs and all vulnerable children
- The school will keep abreast of current issues and initiatives with regard to Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations
Class Dojo system
ClassDojo is a simple, safe classroom management app that helps teachers encourage students in class. At Higher Openshaw Community School we want to help them focus on building important life skills such as working hard and participating. We encourage this by embedding the pupil reward system with the School RESPECT values.
Although rewards are central to the encouragement of good behaviour, realistically there is a need for sanctions to register the disapproval of unacceptable behaviour and to protect the security and stability of the school community.
Class Dojo is therefore also linked to the consequences and sanctions system and is used to highlight pupil bad choices throughout the whole day.
Conflict Resolution
At Higher Openshaw Community School we take great care and process to resolve any conflicts which may arise between pupils. This is firstly done through children reporting any problems to a member of staff. All parties involved including any witness will then discuss what has happened (scribed if necessary) to get a fair reflection of the situation. A member of SLT or the mentoring team will then investigate and gather a verbal account from both sides.
Children will then sit together, discuss what’s has happened and how it has made the other person feel in our making a change sessions. Appropriate sanctions if any will the be made based on our behaviour policy.
To read our latest behaviour policy see the enclosed document file under our policy section in the homepage.