Adult Behaviour
Working together for positive school relations
You are invited to submit any comments on this policy before September 2017 by emailing us at: stmarksswanage.office@coastalpartnership.co.uk
The Governing Body of St Marks CE Primary School encourages close links with parents and the community. It believes that pupils benefit when the relationship between home and school is a positive one. The vast majority of parents, carers and others visiting our school are keen to work with us and are supportive of the school. However, on the rare occasions when a negative attitude towards the school is expressed, this can result in aggression, verbal and or physical abuse towards members of the school staff or the wider school community.
The Governing Body expects and requires its members of staff to behave professionally in these difficult situations and attempt to defuse the situation where possible, seeking the involvement as appropriate of other colleagues. However, all members of staff have the right to work without fear of violence and abuse, and the right, in an extreme case, of appropriate self-defence.
We expect parents and other visitors to behave in a reasonable way towards members of school staff. This policy outlines the steps that will be taken where behaviour is unacceptable.
As well as following the guidance set out in our new Home-School Agreement, we expect parents, carers and visitors to:
- Respect the caring ethos of our school.
- Understand that both teachers and parents need to work together for the benefit of their children.
- Demonstrate that all members of the school community should be treated with respect and therefore set an example in their own speech and behaviour.
- Seek to clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s view in order to bring about a peaceful solution to any issue.
- Correct own child’s behaviour especially in public and on school grounds.
- Approach the school to help resolve any issues of concern
- Avoid using staff as threats to admonish children’s behaviour.
Types of behaviour that are considered serious and unacceptable and will not be tolerated:
- Threatening to do actual bodily harm to a pupil, member of school staff, fellow parent/carer, Governor or visitor regardless of whether or not the behaviour constitutes a criminal offence.
- Disruptive behaviour that interferes or threatens to interfere with the operation of a classroom, an employee’s office, office area, main reception or any other area of the school grounds.
- The use of physical aggression towards another adult or child. This includes physical punishment against your own child on school premises.
- Physically intimidating a member of staff e.g. standing very close to her/ him, the use of aggressive hand gestures, threatening behaviour, shaking or holding a fist towards another person.
- Pushing, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking or spitting.
- Swearing or using loud/offensive language or displaying temper.
- Racist or sexist comments.
- Shouting at members of the school staff, either in person or over the telephone.
- Approaching someone else’s child in order to discuss or chastise them because of the actions of this child towards their own child.
- Breaching the school’s security procedures.
- Damaging or destroying school property.
- Abusive or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communication.
- Defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any pupils/parent/staff at the school on Facebook or other social media sites.
- Smoking and consumption of alcohol or other drugs whist on school property.
- Dogs being brought onto school premises.
This is not an exhaustive list but seeks to provide illustrations of such behaviour.
Unacceptable behaviour may result in the Multi- Academy Trust (MAT) and the police being informed of the incident.
Procedure to be followed If a parent / carer, or member of the public, behaves in an unacceptable way towards a member of the school community, the Headteacher or appropriate senior staff will seek to resolve the situation through discussion and mediation. If necessary, the school’s complaints procedures should be followed.
Where all procedures have been exhausted, and aggression or intimidation continues, or where there is an extreme act of violence, a parent or carer may be banned by the Headteacher, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Multi- Academy Trust (MAT), from the school premises for a period of time, subject to review.
In imposing a ban the following steps will be taken:
- The parent / carer will be informed, in writing, that she / he is banned from the premises, subject to review, and what will happen if the ban is breached, e.g. that police involvement or an injunction application may follow.
- Where an assault has led to a ban, a statement indicating that the matter has been reported to the police, and the MAT, will be included.
- The Chair of Governors and the MAT will be informed of the ban. 4. Where appropriate, arrangements for pupils being delivered to, and collected from the school gate will be clarified. A ban from the school premises includes the school car park and the private school drive leading from the High Street to the school gates. If necessary, two members of staff will accompany a child down the drive at the end of the day and hand the child over to the banned parent.
Any concerns you have about the school must be made through the appropriate channels by speaking to the class teacher, the Headteacher or a member of the SLT, then the Chair of Governors, so they can be dealt with fairly, appropriately and effectively for all concerned.
Conclusion:
Children learn best when there is a positive partnership between home and school. Whilst every effort will be made to work with parents, this will only be possible where parents behave in an acceptable way. Should any of the unacceptable behaviour occur on school premises, the school may feel it is necessary to contact the appropriate authorities. The MAT itself may take action where there are serious breaches of health and safety legislation. In implementing this policy, the school will, as appropriate, seek advice from the MAT in relation to health and safety and legal requirements, to ensure fairness and consistency.
Document Information:
Date/Source of Policy Responsibility: Head Teacher- taken from NAHT guidelines guidelines
Date of Review: July 2017
Date of Next Review: July 2018