Behaviour
Kingsfold Primary School is committed to creating an environment where exceptional behaviour is at the heart of productive learning. Everyone is expected to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct, to accept responsibility for their behaviour and encourage others to do the same. Our behaviour policy guides staff to teach self-discipline not blind compliance. It echoes our core values with a heavy emphasis on being ready, being respectful and being safe.
Good behaviour is actively sought by each member of the school. Our chances of success and happiness, both in school and in the future, depend considerably upon the ability to demonstrate self-control and to make responsible choices regarding behaviour. From a very early age we all make choices about our behaviour, understanding the differences between right and wrong. People can, and usually do, choose to behave well. However, when they do misbehave they are making a conscious decision to do so.
quiet zone
Some of our children may need some quiet reflection time. We have a safe space for this. Children may have a behaviour passport which outlines the different strategies they may use to regulate their behaviour.
Golden rules
The Kingsfold way
The use of reasonable force
There are circumstances when it is appropriate for staff in our setting to use reasonable force to safeguard children and young people. The term ‘reasonable force’ covers the broad range of actions used by staff that involve a degree of physical contact to control or restrain children. This can range from guiding a child to safety by the arm, to more extreme circumstances such as breaking up a fight or where a young person needs to be restrained to prevent violence or injury. ‘Reasonable’ in these circumstances means us ‘using no more than is needed’. Our use of force my involve either passive physical contact, such as standing between pupils or blocking a pupil’s path, or active physical contact such as leading a pupil by the arm out of the classroom.
We will always follow the advice from the government for schools on the Use of Reasonable Force in Schools. We will also have regard to additional guidance Reducing the Need for Restraint and Restrictive Intervention for children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties in health and social care services and special education settings.
We believe that the adoption of a ‘no contact’ policy isn’t Kingsfold could leave staff unable to fully support and protect our pupils and staff. We will adopt a sensible approach allowing staff to make appropriate physical contact. The decision on whether to or not to use reasonable force to control or restrain a child is down to the professional judgement of the staff concerned and should always depend on individual circumstances.
When using reasonable force in response to risks presented by incidents involving children with SEND, mental health or with medical conditions, we will consider the risks carefully because we recognise the additional vulnerability of these groups. We will consider our duties under the Equality Act 2010 in relation to making reasonable adjustments, non-discrimination and our Public Sector Equality Duty.
All staff will follow our behaviour policy and use proactive behaviour support, for instance through drawing up individual behaviour plans for more vulnerable children, and agreeing them with parents and carers, we aim to reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviour and the need to use reasonable force. We will only use reasonable force where all de-escalation processes have failed or there is risk of harm.
