Memorandum submitted by Jackie Deasy
I am a primary HT and wish to make the following
contribution to the Committee about behaviour and discipline in
schools.
I would propose the following be considered:
1. Training for STAFF and GOVERNORS:
(i) All schools should ensure all staff
have CPD on behaviour management as part of the induction to new
posts, in addition to having access to the school's policy.
(ii) In line with Child Protection Awareness
all staff have at least once every three years Behaviour Management
CPD involving all staff who are part of the school team in all
roles involving governors where possible.
(iii) Each school must have at least one
BECO who in line with DSP role will have biannual training and
refresher courses there after.
2. Educating the parents and parent/partnership:
(i) In line with point 1.
(ii) All parents/carers have to attend
once every three years or more often, if the HT feels it is appropriate,
a workshop on behaviour management.
3. Promoting parent/partnership to support their
child's behaviour:
(i) All parents to have signed a home/school
agreement that includes working with the school in partnership
to promote high standards of behaviour. Any parent refusing to
accept their child's behaviour as being inappropriate (assuming
records and statements are kept to prove this) and refuses to
support the school or responds in an obstructive manner will be
seen as choosing to support/promote unacceptable behaviour eg
not attending meetings, cancelling meetings at short notice and
or repeatedly failing to attend. Also parents/carers questioning
the school's approach and staff's involvement in managing their
child's behaviour, repeatedly taking their child's word over staff,
will also been seen as an overt action to breakdown the home/school
partnership and then procedures would be followed to:
(a) Parents/Carers will have to attend
a meeting with a clear framework of time and points to discuss,
initially with the HT/Senior staff, plus appropriate school staff
and outside agencies (without parental permission but with their
knowledge, including, possibly social care, police if appropriate
etc.) This recognises that if the home/school partnership remains
compromised which will potentially promote inappropriate behaviour
in a child, that outside agencies may have to be involved.
(b) If this does not then engage the parents
commitment to work in partnership the matter will be referred
to a governor's committee. This in turn warns the parents that
lack of support/partnership may compromise their child's place
at the school. Time scales and review etc are then in place for
both the parents and child's behaviour.
(c) Class behaviour plans as part of the
school's policy are shared at the start of each academic year
with parents.
3. SEN and Behaviour related matters/concerns.
Parents/carers will be informed but cannot refuse for any outside
agency to be involved with the school to support their child's
behaviour.
September 2010
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