Behaviour & Attendance

Behaviour and Mental Health Guidance

We are here to help you and your family during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please get in touch if you need help or support. Please also read the mental health and wellbeing advice for parents and carers on the link provided.

Behaviour Policy Amendment During Covid-19

In light of the need for children to behave differently and to follow specific rules on their return to school during the Covid-19 epidemic, this amendment to the Behaviour Policy outlines specific changes to guidance that pupils will have to follow. Our guiding principle when making any changes or adjustments to policy is to be able to keep all of our children, families and staff safe and place their wellbeing at the forefront of everything we do.

Behaviour Expectations:

amended expectations about breaks or play times, including where children may or may not play
clear rules about coughing or spitting at or towards any other person
rewards and sanction system where appropriate if changed from main body of policy
clear rules for pupils at home about conduct in relation to remote education
Identify any reasonable adjustments that need to be made for students with more challenging behaviour.

School Routines and Procedures:

following any altered routines for arrival or departure
following instructions on who pupils can socialise with at school
moving around the school as per specific instructions (for example, one-way systems, out of bounds areas, queuing)
rules about sharing any equipment or other items including drinking bottles
use of toilets

Hygiene and Health Expectations:

following school instructions on hygiene, such as handwashing and sanitising
expectations about sneezing, coughing, tissues and disposal (‘catch it, bin it, kill it’) and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes with hands
tell an adult if you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus

Mental Health and Emotional and Spiritual Support:

Curriculum changes to support children, e.g. social stories, circle time, PHSE, collective worship focus
Additional support that pupils can access above and beyond classroom provision if required

Attendance Guidance

The government have stated that from September 2020 all children must return to school, so as to minimise the longer-term impact of the pandemic on your children’s education, wellbeing and wider development. Missing out on more time in the classroom will put your child at risk of falling further behind. Children with higher overall absence tend to achieve less well in both primary and secondary school. We will be working with families to secure regular school attendance from the start of the autumn term so as to help pupils catch up on missed education, make progress and promote their wellbeing and wider development.

School attendance is therefore mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term – September 2020. This means that from this point in time, the usual rules on compulsory school attendance will apply. Based on government guidance and public health advice, we have provided some frequently asked attendance questions and answers in the hope of assisting you to understand the expectations, lessening your fears and successfully navigating your child’s return to school. Please see our amended attendance policy for further details.