A positive, consistent approach
The safety, happiness and wellbeing of every pupil is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to the development of every pupil as a caring and responsible member of our school community. We recognise the importance of a positive, consistent approach to behaviour in school and we understand that when children feel happy, safe, listened to and respected, then they make progress with their learning.
Five key rules
In order to achieve our aims, we have established a positive behaviour system, grounded in consistency and based on five rules which are designed to provide children with a structure to their behaviour. Staff will refer directly to these rules to ensure children make excellent behaviour choices. These rules are displayed in every classroom and in prominent positions around the school to promote positive behaviour choices.
Pupils are taught how they should behave in different situations and high expectations are set by all members of staff. At Key Stage 2, pupils take responsibility for learning and behaviour in the classroom and beyond through the development of a class charter to support positive behaviours. Across the school, Creating Excellent Learners (CEL) support the pupils with both their academic and behavioural achievements.
Creating Excellent Learners (CEL)
CEL (Creating Excellent Learners) is a more intentional approach at helping children to become better learners. It is about creating a culture in classrooms that cultivates learning behaviours and attitudes to enable children to face challenges calmly, confidently and creatively. It offers a shared language of learning across the school as well as shared and progressive expectations:
As a partner school in the Department of Education ‘Behaviour Hub’ project, we have used this opportunity, especially following the pandemic, to reflect on and proactively develop the behaviour ‘culture’ across the school.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/behaviour-hubs
The Priory ‘Keep Safe’ Code
Everyone has a responsibility to prevent bullying
Bullying is not tolerated at the Priory School. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell a trusted adult. Everyone has a responsibility to prevent bullying and we are committed to our antibullying programme (through PSHE/RHSE curriculum)worship, peer support networks), including the use of peer support through our trained (Diana Award) Key Stage 2 ambassadors.
Our ambassadors have played a fundamental role in reshaping our new antibullying policy, which now includes a child-friendly charter for all classrooms.
In line with principles from the AntiBullying Alliance, we teach children the STOP strategy to explain what bullying is and what to do if it happens to them.
Bullying is Several Times On Purpose.
If bullying happens to you Start Telling Other People.
The school uses Google’s ‘Be Internet Legends’ programme to support learning in online safety and wellbeing across the school. We use the curriculum, class discussion and worship to help build an anti-bullying ethos in the school, including online safety.
If you suspect your child is being bullied (at school or online), please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Your child’s class teacher is the person to speak to in the first instance as they are often in the best position to help. For more information on types of bullying and signs to look out for, these websites are very useful:
https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/?gclid=CNrB8OiSvssCFcsW0wodErYKvg/
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/advice-and-support/advice-parents-and-carers
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/bullying-and-cyberbullying/
Whole School Rewards
At the Priory, we give first attention to best behaviour. We recognise and reward children in different ways recognising that a quiet word of personal praise can be just as effective as a larger, more public reward. Rewards include:
Team motivations/celebrations:
- House points – weekly cup
- House points – half-termly reward for winning house
- Attendance cup – monthly celebration of attendance
- Caretaker’s cup – weekly celebration of tidiest/’greenest’ classroom
- Class rewards; eg. marble jar, trip to park
Individual motivations/celebrations:
- Weekly green
- Learner of the week
- Reward certificates e.g. Maths magicians, reading challenge and writing wizards
- Postcards/phone calls home
- Occasional ‘specials’ – for example, hot chocolate with the Head
House–points
There are 4 Houses at The Priory Primary school:
All children are in a House team. House points are given to the children for good work, good behaviour, endeavour and helpfulness. The points are collected weekly and put into a running total. A cup is presented to the team with the most house points at the end of assembly on Friday.