Behaviour Policy St. Enda’s Primary School, Whitefriar Street, Dublin 8.
The aims of the Code of Behaviour of St. Enda’s Primary School are:
- To provide guidance for pupils, teachers and parents on behavioural expectations.
- To provide for the effective and safe operation of the school.
- To develop pupils’ self-esteem and to promote positive behaviour.
- To foster the development of a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in pupils based on respect, consideration and tolerance 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.
Implementation
Every member of the school community has a role to play in the implementation of the Code of Behaviour. Rules will be kept to a minimum, instead trying to emphasise positive behaviour, and will be applied in a fair and consistent manner, with due regard to the age of the pupils and to individual difference. Good behaviour will be encouraged and rewarded. Where difficulties arise, parents will be contacted at an early stage.
General Guidelines for Positive Behaviour
- Pupils are expected to treat all adults and fellow pupils with respect and courtesy at all
times. Behaviour that interferes with the rights of others to learn and to feel safe is
unacceptable.
- Pupils are expected to show respect for all school property and to keep the school
environment clean and litter free.
- Pupils are expected to take pride in their appearance, to have all books and required
materials and to be in the right place at the right time.
- Pupils are expected to obey a teacher’s instructions, to work to the best of their ability
and to present assignments neatly.
- Pupils are expected to attend every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence, in
which case, the school must be informed in writing, stating the reason for absence.
Bullying
Bullying is repeated verbal, psychological or physical aggression by an individual or group
against another or others. The most common forms of bullying are aggressive physical
contact, name-calling, intimidation, extortion, isolation and taunting. Bullying will not be
tolerated and parents will be expected to cooperate with the school at all times in dealing with
instances of bullying in accordance with the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy.
Affirming Positive Behaviour
Positive reinforcement of good behaviour leads to better self-discipline and we place a
greater emphasis on rewards and incentives than on sanctions.
Strategies/Incentives
- A quiet word or gesture to show approval.
- A comment on a child’s exercise book.
- A visit to another class or Principal for commendation.
- Praise in front of class group.
- Individual class merit awards, points awards or award stamps
- Delegating some special responsibility or privilege.
- Written or verbal communication with parent.
Discouraging Misbehaviour
The purpose of sanctions and other strategies is to promote positive behaviour and discourage
negative behaviour. Sanctions will be applied according to the gravity of the misbehaviour,
with due regard to age and emotional development. These may include:
- Reasoning with pupil.
- Verbal reprimand (including advice on how to improve.)
- Temporary separation from peers within class and/or temporary removal to another class.
- Prescribing extra work.
- Loss of privileges.
- Detention during break.
- Communication with parents.
- Referral to Principal.
- Principal communicating with parents.
- Exclusion (Suspension or Expulsion) from school (in accordance with Rule 130 of the Rules for National Schools as amended by circular and Education Welfare Act 2000). Pupils will not be deprived of engagement in a Curricular Area, except on the grounds of health/safety
- Suspension/Expulsion
Before serious sanctions such as detention, suspension or expulsion are used, the normal
channels of communication between school and parents will be utilised. Where it is proposed
to detain a pupil after school hours, the parents or guardians will be notified. Communication
with parents may be verbal or by letter, depending on the circumstances.
For gross misbehaviour or repeated instances 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 School Manager will be
informed and the parents will be requested, in writing, to attend at the
school to meet the Manager and the principal.
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 for 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
Manager will notify the Local Education Welfare 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.
School Rules
School rules are kept to a minimum and are devised with regard for the health, safety and
welfare of all members of the school community. If a school is to function efficiently, it is
necessary that rules and regulations are clearly stated and enforced consistently and fairly.
Before/After School
Parents are reminded that the staff of the school does not accept responsibility for pupils
before official opening time of 8:50a.m. or after the official closing time of 2:30p.m.
(infants – 1:40p.m.) except where pupils are engaged in an extra-curricular activity organised
by the school and approved by the School Management. Pupils involved in such activities
are expected to behave in accordance with school behaviour policy during these times.
Board of Management’s Responsibilities
- Provide a comfortable, safe environment.
- Support the Principal and staff in implementing the code.
- Ratify the code.
Principal’s Responsibilities
- Promote a positive climate in the school.
- Ensure that the Code of Behaviour is implemented in a fair and consistent manner.
- Arrange for review of the Code, as required.
Teachers’ Responsibilities
Support and implement the school’s code of behaviour.
- Create a safe working environment for each pupil.
- Recognise and affirm good work.
- Prepare school work and correct work done by pupils.
- Recognise and provide for individual talents and differences among pupils.
- Be courteous, consistent and fair.
- Keep opportunities for disruptive behaviour to a minimum.
- Deal appropriately with misbehaviour.
- Keep a record of instances of serious misbehaviour or repeated instances of misbehaviour.
- Provide support for colleagues.
- Communicate with parents when necessary and provide reports on matters of mutual concern.
Pupils’ Responsibilities
- Attend school regularly and punctually.
- Listen to their teachers and act on instructions/advice.
- Show respect for all members of the school community.
- Respect all school property and the property of other pupils.
- Avoid behaving in any way which would endanger others.
- Avoid all nasty remarks, swearing and name-calling.
- Include other pupils in games and activities.
- Bring correct materials/books to school.
- Follow school and class rules.
Parents/Guardians’ Responsibilities
Encourage children to have a sense of respect for themselves and for property.
- Ensure that children attend regularly and punctually.
- Be interested in, support and encourage their children’s school work.
- Be familiar with the code of behaviour and support its implementation.
- Co-operate with teachers in instances where their child’s behaviour is causing difficulties for others.
- Communicate with the school in relation to any problems which may affect child’s progress/behaviour.
Appendix to Behaviour Policy
Sample Rules
Classroom
Instructions given by teacher must be obeyed. (Do what teacher says.)
Pupils should work to the best of their ability and present exercises neatly. (Work hard.)
Pupils must stay seated in their places unless told otherwise. This is particularly important
when teacher is called from the room. (Sit in your place.)
Pupils should keep unhelpful hands, feet, objects and comments to themselves. (Don’t
interrupt the teacher or interfere with other pupils or their property.)
Rules around the School
Pupils must walk quietly in corridors, going to and from yard, hall, church etc.
Pupils must follow the instructions, stay in designated area, and may leave the
yard only with a teacher’s permission
Pupils must play safely at all times. Anti-social, dangerous or hurtful behaviour is forbidden,
(e.g. wrestling, headlocks, jockey backs, bullying, intimidation, teasing, jeering, fighting,
spitting, kicking, charging in groups, bad language, exclusion).
Pupils should walk to doors at going home time.
I,____________________ ,Parent of _____________________, agree to comply with, encourage and support the terms of this policy and reinforce its terms and standards with my child.
Signed:________________________________ Date:_____________________
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF SAINT ENDA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
January 28th , 2019.
Updated 2nd March, 2023