Rationale
The Code of Behaviour is a very important part of our school and promotes our ethos. This policy is necessary for many reasons:

• To follow in line with legislation
• To have a consistent approach within the school and among all teachers
• To ensure and maintain a positive environment within the school

Aims of the Code of Behaviour

• To ensure the safety of all pupils and staff members
• To ensure effective management of the school
• To promote a positive environment within the school community
• To assist parents/guardians pupils and teachers in understanding the system and procedures that form part of the Code of Behaviour and to ensure their cooperation
• To provide consistency and fairness in procedures for dealing with misbehaviours
• To teach life skills and behaviour management
• To promote a respect for each other and the school community
• To promote positive behaviour and self discipline, recognising differences and the need to accommodate these differences

Guidelines Positive Behaviour
A positive school climate and atmosphere is one where individuals are valued, cared for and respected. Such an atmosphere contributes to effective teaching and learning and to genuine communication, both within and outside the school.
Each community group e.g. staff, parents, Board of Management, students should revise the Code of Behaviour at the beginning of every year. These guidelines will be stated in very positive language. Please see Positive Language Guidelines.
Each class group with the class teacher should devise their own set of guidelines.

School Rules

• To respect others’ space, property, points of view and individuality
• For safety reasons children need to have a “leithreas” sign with them when they go to the toilet (whether they are inside or outside).
• The safety of the children for the school day is of paramount importance to ensure that all their educational needs are met.

Resources used to promote positive behaviour
Social Personal and Health Education
Walk Tall Programme
Circle Time
Ethical Education Programme
Stay Safe Programme
Drama
These are some examples of how we promote positive behaviour

Guidelines for outdoors (incl..yard, P.E.)
Lining Up: Steps to follow when a child is unsafe in the line
1. Verbal Reminder – Ask the child: Are you being safe?
2. Verbal Warning – We’ve already spoken about being safe in the line.
3. Step out of the line on your own and back into the line on your own in front of the back leaders.
4. Walk with the teacher – noted on the behaviour chart
5. Walk around the peripheral of the yard

Inappropriate behaviour outside:
1. Verbal Reminder – Ask child: Is that safe/appropriate?
2. Verbal Warning – We’ve spoken about….already.
3. Time out – 2-5mins
4. Walk around the peripheral of the yard for a number of times, depending on the age of the child and the incident.
It is at this point that the incident is recorded in the Behaviour Charts

Inappropriate behaviour inside:
1. Verbal Reminder – Ask child: Is that safe/appropriate?
2. Verbal Warning – We’ve spoken about already
3. Time out -2-5mins
4. One or more of the following:
Communicate with parent/guardian
Refer to Principal/Deputy Principal
Discussion with teacher/parent
Meeting with Principal/Deputy Principal and Parent

Recording
The Behaviour Chart will be the main tool for recording inappropriate behaviours. The Behaviour Charts will be stored in the office. Each teacher is responsible for putting the behaviour charts into the “behaviour box”, after every break. The Principal/Deputy Principal will collate all behaviour charts and put them into the children’s individual files every Friday.
A – lining up
B – leaving play area*
C – dropping litter
D – rough play
E – unsafe play
F – aggressive play
G – isolating children
H – not responding to teacher
I – intimidating
Z – calling names*
Y – spreading rumours*

* Z and Y are to be sorted out with the children involved, when they are brought to the teacher’s attention. The teacher will encourage the children involved to sort the incident/difficulty out themselves. S/he will intervene if the children are not able to reach a solution.

* If a child leaves the play area without speaking to the teachers on yard the following steps are to be taken:
If a child goes too far/to a dangerous place/near a dangerous object, they are asked to walk around the yard and it is recorded by the teacher in the behaviour book.
If a child goes inside without permission the child stays inside and misses their break time.

Communication
Within the ethos of Newbridge Educate Together N.S. parents/guardians and teachers work together as a partnership to ensure each child receives a full education for life. At the curriculum meetings at the beginning of the year, parents will be informed of programmes and methodologies in building self-discipline in children.
The teacher on yard duty informs the class teacher of any incident that has happened. For serious and major misbehaviours the principal must be advised. If an SNA sees an incident he/she must report it to the teacher on yard duty, who will record it. The appropriate parents/guardians will be informed of repeated, minor, serious or major misbehaviours in oral or written form. After a parent/guardian has been informed, if they would like a follow-up consultation they should not hesitate to make an appointment.
The Board of Management may be informed in the case of a major misbehaviour. As each child and incident is unique there may be a need to consult an expert outside the school community.
The procedures for handling grievances in schools that has been agreed between the INTO and the principal Management Bodies is available on page 204 and 205 of the INTO Members’ Handbook.

Children with Special Needs
In Newbridge Educate Together N.S. we recognise each child as an individual and as such all misbehaviours and sanctions will be treated on an individual basis. Experts outside the school community may be consulted in a confidential way.

Success Criteria
Some practical indicators

• Positive feedback from parents/teachers/pupils
• Observation of behaviour in school environment
• Behaviour charts – check charts and observe patterns

Roles and responsibilities
The Principal, class teachers and SNAs will have responsibility to help maintain a positive environment within the school.
Post Holders will remind staff about the Code of Behaviour at the 1st staff meeting.
Student Council will remind students about the Code of Behaviour after the 1st meeting. Chair of the P.A. will remind parents about the Code of Behaviour at the 1st P.A. meeting. Chair of the BoM will remind the BoM about the Code of Behaviour at the 1st meeting.
All members of the school community will accept and abide by the Code of Behaviour.

Ratification
To be ratified by the Board of Management

Timetable for review
Due for review September 2009