Conduct Policy

Purpose and Statement:

Children’s learning in all areas, academic, social and personal, is best supported in an environment where children feel happy, safe, valued, and motivated to achieve. At Procter Dance Academy, we create a positive learning environment that ensures our approach to behaviour management and discipline is consistent and understood by all staff, pupils, and parents.

We firmly believe that the best way to ensure high standards of discipline is to recognise achievement and celebrate success. To support this, we believe that Procter Dance Academy needs a system of rewards for good and improving behaviour and sanctions where standards fall below our expectations. These rewards and sanctions must be applied consistently and fairly.

Main Aims for the Policy:

To outline Procter Dance Academy expectations of behaviour and the systems used.
To ensure we promote and develop good behaviour.
To promote good choices which lead to effective relationships so that everyone can support each other, work together, and learn well.
To help children become positive, responsible, and increasingly independent members of Procter Dance Academy and the wider community.

Review and Monitoring of Policy:

Reviewed annually or in instances of legislative change.
Monitoring is part of Management and Supervision.

The Following Policy is Based on the Below Principles:

All members of the Procter Dance Academy community have a right to expect that they learn and learn in a safe place.
Procter Dance Academy expects every member of its community to behave in a considerate way towards others.
There will be a zero tolerance of violence, threatening behaviour, and disorderly conduct, including abuse in all forms, against Procter Dance Academy staff or other members of the Procter Dance Academy community.
Where such behaviour does occur, action will be taken to deal with the person or persons concerned.

What Do We Mean by Abusive or Threatening Behaviour?

The Public Order Act 1986 defines “disorderly conduct” as: verbal abuse, threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour or any disorderly behaviour whereby a person is caused alarm, harassment or distress.

“Threatening behaviour” is when a person fears that violence or threat of violence is likely to be provoked. In a Procter Dance Academy context, this could mean a child shouting at a member of staff, either in person or on the phone, acting aggressively towards staff or other students, including using intimidating body language, as well as actual violence. It also covers comments posted on social networking sites or situations where members of staff are approached off premises.

Expectations:

We believe that good behaviour is essential to enable all our pupils to achieve their full potential. Good behaviour promotes effective learning; effective teaching and learning promotes good behaviour.

No student will be allowed to behave in a manner which adversely affects the learning opportunities of others.

We believe it is important for children to be aware of their behaviour and its impact on others. Pupils need to take responsibility for their behaviour and be actively involved in finding solutions.

The school expects all in its community to follow these rules of behaviour which are aimed at promoting respect, honesty, and good relationships, so that people can work together in a supportive atmosphere with the common purpose of helping everyone to learn, to be creative, to grow emotionally and physically, and to be happy.

Do be gentle - Do not hurt anyone.
Do be kind and helpful - Do not hurt people's feelings.
Do work hard - Do not waste your and other people's time.
Do look after property - Do not waste or damage things.
Do listen to people - Do not interrupt.
Do be honest - Do not cover up the truth.

Staff Will:

Ensure all children are clear about our expectations of behaviour at the beginning of the term and remind them during classes.
Treat each child fairly, with respect and understanding.
Plan quality learning tasks which engage and motivate learners.
Praise good choices, behaviour and achievements.
Ensure they are fully familiar with the children’s needs and make every effort to be positive, motivational and inspiring – thus minimising the risk of poor behaviour during lessons.
Use Procter Dance Academy guidance to ensure they are consistent when deciding on consequences.
Keep a record and relevant notes on any misbehaviour.
Keep parents/carers informed about their child’s behaviour and relationships.
Ensure the health, safety and welfare of all children.

We Expect Parents and Carers to:

Be aware of Procter Dance Academy’s expectations of behaviour.
Celebrate their child’s achievements and show an interest in their Procter Dance Academy classes.
Ensure that children arrive at Procter Dance Academy on time.
Work with Procter Dance Academy to model high expectations of behaviour.
Work with Procter Dance Academy to support us in improving children’s behaviour.
Act promptly at the request of Procter Dance Academy in the instance of a discipline problem.
Support Procter Dance Academy decision when applying consequences.

Bullying/Violence:

Procter Dance Academy has a zero-tolerance bullying and violence policy. Students who bully other members of the Procter Dance Academy community and/or use physical violence will have their membership revoked and they will be asked to leave.

Bullying is unacceptable behaviour used by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally.

Bullying Can Be:

Emotional - being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g., hiding property, threatening gestures).
Physical - pushing, kicking, biting, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
Racial - racial taunts, graffiti, gestures etc.
Homophobic - because of or focussing on the issue of sexuality.
Sexual - unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
Verbal - name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing etc.
Cyber - All areas of internet, such as email and internet chat, Twitter, Facebook misuse etc. Mobile threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of associated technology, i.e., camera and video facilities, iPad, games consoles etc.

Bullying May Be Related To:

Race
Gender
Religion
Culture
SEN or disability
Appearance or health condition
Home circumstances, including young carers and poverty.
Sexual orientation, sexism, or sexual bullying, homophobia

Students must not hesitate to report bullying to any adult on site. Volunteers and staff will help any student/family who are the victim of any of these behaviours. Staff will investigate any allegation of bullying, which may result in any perpetrator being asked to leave.

Staff remain vigilant about bullying behaviours and approach this in the same way as any other category of Child Abuse; that is, do not wait to be told before you raise concerns or deal directly with the matter. Children may not be aware that they are being bullied; because they may be too young or have a level of Special Educational Needs which means that they may be unable to realise what others may be doing to them.

The ethos and working philosophy of Procter Dance Academy means that all staff actively encourage children to have respect for each other and for other people’s property. Good and kind/polite behaviour is regularly acknowledged.

For full information, we have the following policies in place that should be read in conjunction with this section:

Child Protection and Safeguarding

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND):

Whilst every effort is made to ensure our procedures support children to make good choices, we know that some children have additional needs. When this happens, we will work closely with parents/carers to provide additional interventions which may include:

Establishing an individual behaviour plan.
Support from the parents.

Procter Dance Academy is unable to provide 1-to-1 support, which is made clear to any parent at the time of booking should they disclose additional needs information to us.

Procter Dance Academy will do everything within our power to integrate children with additional needs into our classes, however, should behaviour become disruptive in any way, Procter Dance Academy must reserve the right to ask children to rescind membership.

Managing Behavioural Challenges:

Procter Dance Academy is an extra-curricular activity, and as such we expect that students want to attend classes. Behavioural difficulties are rare, but Procter Dance Academy sometimes does have to manage situations.

Staff are instructed to never demean or undermine pupils, their parents or carers, or colleagues. Staff must also never raise their voice beyond what is appropriate and must never lose their temper.

Staff are expected to consult with the Principal Anna Kavanagh before initiating any type of disciplinary measures.

Procter Dance Academy will do its upmost to resolve any issues, but if bad behaviour continues without improvement, the pupil may be asked to leave the dance school.