At Silverline Private School we have a clear expectation that students’ behaviour as well as their attitude to learning will be excellent. We have in place both positive reinforcement practices and clearly established procedures for dealing with incidents of unacceptable behaviour. Any measures and sanctions applied will consider individual needs of students.

We believe that the ethos of the school is central to creating an environment which allows all students to develop and maintain high standards of behaviour and academic achievement. The quality of relationships throughout the school is of the utmost importance because it:

• Enables teachers to teach and students to learn.
• Raises self-esteem.
• Provides a harmonious and mutually respectful atmosphere.
• Is accepted and required in the wider society beyond school life.

Aims of the Student Attitudes and Behaviour Policy

• To provide an orderly, fair, consistent and safe environment where effective teaching and learning can take place.
• To encourage self-discipline in all students, helping them to make positive choices and to recognise consequences.
• To develop a whole school consistent approach to behaviour management.

Students need

• Regular attendance.
• To access a safe, stimulating environment.
• To feel valued.
• To be offered an appropriate, well balanced curriculum with realistic expectations.
• To have good role models provided by all adults in school.
• To develop an understanding of right and wrong and consequences of poor choices.
• To be involved in the discussion of whole school expectations at the beginning of each academic year.

Parents need

• To know that their children are safe and are going to be treated fairly.
• To be welcomed into school as partners in their children’s education.
• To be well informed and involved with their child’s life in school.
• To know they will be expected to take responsibility for the behaviour of their child both inside and outside of school.
• Teachers to contact parents about any significant behaviour and discipline issue.
• To know that bullying incidents, including cyber bullying, will be dealt with quickly with a zero-tolerance approach.

Teachers need

• To be able to teach without disruption.
• To be supported by a clear and consistent implementation of the behaviour policy.
• To work in partnership with parents.

When students choose not to adhere to expectations or make poor choices about their behaviour and conduct, sanctions will be applied. Sanctions will be relevant to the misdemeanour and will be clearly explained to the student, so they understand there is a consequence to their actions. Incidents will be investigated fairly before sanctions are applied. At Silverline Private School it is very rare that we have to apply sanctions, as behaviour is consistently good. We also acknowledge that students make mistakes and make poor choices from time to time and that they need to be reminded or have additional support to understand the rules in a sensitive and understanding way.

Pupils who consistently behave well and comply with expectations will be rewarded.

Positive relationships between staff and students underpins our effective behaviour management and climate for effective learning. Good behaviour is recognised and celebrated for students who consistently comply with shared expectations. In addition to positive praise, good behaviour will often be acknowledged and rewarded with House Points. The Houses at Silverline are: Aristotle, Pericles, Plato and Hippocrates. Each child will be allocated to a House on admission.

At the beginning of each term, students will work with their teachers to compile a list of rewards they would like to have. Suggestions may include having a hot chocolate with a friend, having an extra playtime with a group of friends, to help out in another class, to teach a lesson, etc. It is expected that the reward will be given the following week at an appropriate time.

House Points

• House Points will be recorded on individual record cards and class House displays.
• House Points will be counted and collected by House Captains every Friday lunchtime.
• The House with the highest points total at the end of every half-term will receive recognition in the form of a reward. Possibilities are fluid and are decided/arranged in accordance with House Captains.
• Every time a child achieves milestones of 50-point increments on their individual House Points record chart, they will choose a reward as explained above.

Special Rewards

• At the end of a week, a student from each class will be identified as ‘Star of the Week’. This may be for an exemplary piece of work, an improvement in their attitude, progress in their learning or displaying kindness to others. The ‘Star of the Week’ will have their photograph displayed on the celebration board and on Seesaw, and they will also be able to choose a reward from the class selection.
• Head Teachers may issue certificates for exemplary effort, progress or attainment at any point throughout the week. This may be via class teacher recommendation or directly by the Head Teacher.