Behaviour

It is a primary aim of Malmesbury Primary School that every member of the community feels happy, safe and secure, and that each person is valued and treated fairly. We are a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. Therefore, the primary aim of behaviour management is not a system to enforce rules, but a means of promoting good relationships, so that people can work together with the common purpose of helping everyone to learn and to show the value of compassion. When there is a positive culture at school, all pupils feel safe and able to learn, and staff feel supported and able to teach.

The Department for Education document, Behaviour in schools: advice for headteachers and school staff (January 2022) reports, "Good behaviour in schools is central to a good education. Schools need to manage behaviour well, so they can provide calm, orderly, safe and supportive environments in which children and young people want to attend and can learn and thrive. Being taught how to behave well is vital for children to succeed personally and for them to successfully navigate the communities they inhabit."

Good behaviour underpins effective learning, and children need good personal and social skills in order to live fulfilling and rewarding lives as adults.  We believe it to be a highly important aspect of children’s education and development that they learn to behave appropriately, treat others well and contribute positively towards the community in which they live. This enables children to grow in a safe and secure environment, and to become responsible and increasingly independent members of the community.

We expect high standards of behaviour from everyone within the Malmesbury community, and as adults, should always model what is expected. Our expectations are designed for the safety of everyone, and in order to maximise the potential of every child, we ask for parents and staff to support us in upholding them. Our main expectation is to show care and consideration for others. We strongly believe that a positive approach to discipline is the best one, promoting good behaviour through an ethos of kindness and collaboration.

Behaviour which disrupts learning is unacceptable in our school, and through the constant promotion of positive behaviour, we seek to minimise, if not eliminate any such behaviour. Whilst our aim is to promote good behaviour, we do apply agreed sanctions with regard to pupils’ behaviour where necessary.

We treat all children fairly and apply our behaviour management approach consistently, regardless of race, gender, age or ability. We are an inclusive school and endeavour to meet the needs of all children, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. However, when appropriate, we make reasonable adjustments to support children who might be finding things more challenging. In all disciplinary actions it is essential that the child knows that it is the behaviour which is unacceptable, and not the child as a person.

Our Behaviour Policy can be read here.