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Behaviour
21 articles
Behaviour management strategies
- Auditing behaviour What evidence should schools use when auditing behaviour? This article includes KeyDoc templates for gathering evidence during a behaviour audit and for reporting findings. One of our experts suggests factors to consider when auditing behaviour and we include examples of audits from schools.
- Behaviour and discipline: what you can and can't do Get to grips with the rules on sanctions and disciplining poor behaviour.
- Behaviour for learning: strategies (primary) How can schools promote behaviour for learning? We look at the strategy a primary school uses to encourage behaviour for learning. You will also find guidance on using social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL), restorative approaches and high-quality teaching to improve behaviour.
- Behaviour logs: examples (primary) Are there examples of behaviour logs from primary schools? We look at paper-based behaviour logs from primary schools, a local authority and TES. We also point to another article which looks at using electronic systems to monitor behaviour across the school.
- Behaviour management: pupils with emotional and learning needs How can we manage the behaviour of pupils with emotional and learning needs? This article features case studies and videos that outline how schools are addressing challenging behaviour. It also looks at some psychological perspectives on behaviour management.
- Behaviour management toolkits Have a look at toolkits for managing pupil behaviour, including toolkits that support classroom management and teacher training.
- Behaviour plans for pupils Download our template of a behaviour plan, and click through to examples of individual behaviour plans for pupils. We also link to guidance on writing and reviewing behaviour plans.
- Behaviour policy: staff quizzes Download our quizzes to check whether your staff understand your school's approach to behaviour and can apply your policy consistently.
- Charlie Taylor's behaviour checklists Is there information about Charlie Taylor's behaviour checklists? We set out guidance from the government's former behaviour adviser on creating a behaviour checklist. This article also features video case studies and checklists from schools that have used this behaviour management technique.
- Improving lunchtime behaviour How can we improve pupils' lunchtime behaviour? We look at guidance for midday supervisors on managing pupils' behaviour positively. You will also find a case study and research on lunchtime activities, and information about training for midday supervisors.
- Improving sixth form attendance and behaviour How can standards of behaviour and attendance in sixth forms be improved? This article cites advice from one of our associate education experts on improving attendance and behaviour in sixth forms. It also features a case study from a sixth form that has improved students' attendance.
- Monitoring behaviour in school: form Download our proforma to help you monitor pupil behaviour inside and outside the classroom – it's got descriptions of what 'good' and 'outstanding' behaviour should look like.
- Pastoral support plans: guidance and examples Find out how to develop a pastoral support plan (PSP) and get templates and examples to help you write your own.
- Physical restraint training Although there's no legal requirement for staff to have training in physical restraint, they should be trained if they may need to restrain pupils. Read on for more information on recommended practice and choosing a provider.
- Poll: most effective behaviour approaches Have your say and find out what other school leaders are saying.
- Positive handling plans: examples See examples of positive handling plans from infant, primary, secondary and special schools to help you write or update your own.
- Pupil behaviour observation forms Are there forms to use to record the behaviour of a pupil? We link to proformas for monitoring the behaviour of an individual pupil from a school and LAs. You will also find a downloadable proforma for monitoring behaviour across the school.
- Restorative approaches in schools: guidance, videos and policies How can schools use restorative approaches to conflict resolution? We link to guidance on restorative justice and peer mediation from the DfE and the Restorative Justice Council, as well as videos from Teachers TV. We also include restorative justice policies from primary and secondary schools.
- Software packages for monitoring pupil behaviour Are there any software packages for monitoring pupil behaviour? In this article, we link to software packages that schools can use to monitor pupil behaviour. Some of these systems can also be used for tracking progress and attendance and for viewing data on special educational needs.
- Supporting pupils with challenging behaviour Is there guidance on supporting pupils with challenging behaviour? We relay guidance on identifying the underlying needs of a pupil with challenging behaviour and conducting a functional assessment. You will also find information on developing a support plan, as well as examples and templates.
- Effective behaviour management systems: essential features Find out what effective behaviour management looks like on a whole-school level and see examples of what outstanding schools are doing.
3 articles
Bullying
- Bullying: recording and reporting incidents It's up to you to decide whether to record bullying incidents, but you'll find some examples of forms in this article if you wish to do so. You can also find information about when to report incidents to the LA and how to evaluate your approach to bullying.
- Cyber-bullying: guidance How can we deal with incidents of cyber-bullying? This article looks at how to prevent and respond to online bullying of pupils, including examining pupils’ social media accounts. It relays advice on how to support pupils who have been bullied and guidance on tackling cyber-bullying against staff.
- Reporting racist incidents in school Know when you need to report racist incidents and bullying to your LA or the police. Find out how to use your behaviour policy to tackle racism, and examples of policies from schools on dealing with racism.
8 articles
Dealing with incidents of bad behaviour
- Behaviour: reflection forms and witness statements Are there reflection forms to be filled out after a behaviour incident? This article sets out examples of forms for pupils to complete after exhibiting poor behaviour, and a form for witness statements. One of our associate experts suggests actions to take after completion of a pupil incident form.
- Educational visits: refusing to take pupils It's up to you whether to prevent a pupil from going on a trip, but you must avoid discrimination. Here's what to consider if you have pupils with challenging behaviour, and for those with SEND and/or medical conditions.
- How to record physical interventions It's good practice to log the use of reasonable force against pupils. Find guidance on how to do this, and see examples of template record sheets from schools and local authorities.
- How to use reasonable force Make sure you understand when staff can make physical interventions with pupils. Read through our summary of the official guidance, including what it has to say on staff training and reporting incidents.
- Mobile phones: sanctions for misuse Find out when you can ban or confiscate pupils' phones, and read different approaches from schools in how they handle pupils breaking their rules on phones.
- School uniform: dealing with non-compliance You're allowed to sanction pupils from breaking your uniform rules. Read the official guidance on this here, and see examples of approaches from schools.
- Searching pupils and confiscation Make sure you understand the rules on when you can search pupils, and what you should do with any items found.
- Tackling low-level disruption: strategies How do schools deal with low-level disruption? We look at research and guidance on low-level disruption from Ofsted, and the strategies some primary and secondary schools use. You will also find a case study from a primary school looking at how low-level disruption is linked to pupil wellbeing.
16 articles
Exclusions
- Excluding a pupil: procedures When can a pupil be excluded? We look at when pupils can be excluded and for how long. Here you'll learn the statutory process you must follow to exclude a pupil.
- Excluding pupils with EHC plans Can we exclude a pupil who has an EHC plan? Schools should avoid excluding pupils with SEN as far as possible. We look at the statutory guidance on exclusions, guidance on disability discrimination, and arranging managed moves for pupils with EHC plans who are at risk of exclusion.
- Exclusions We explain the rules around school exclusion in just one page. You can also download a copy of this QuickRead as a ready-made resource to share with colleagues.
- Exclusions guidance from September 2017: summary of changes Are there changes to the exclusions guidance? The DfE has published updated exclusions guidance, in force from 1 September 2017. There have been no changes to the legislation, but we set out the minor updates to the guidance which clarify aspects of the exclusion process.
- Exclusions: resolving difficulties with parents Advice on what to do if parents don't co-operate with an exclusion, or behave in an unacceptable way during the process.
- Independent review panel hearings for permanent exclusions Is there guidance on independent review panels for permanently excluded pupils? We relay statutory guidance on independent review panels, covering parents’ rights, timescales, the constitution of the panel and the process to be followed. You will also find advice on delaying or adjourning a review.
- Internal exclusions Does an internal exclusion count as a legal exclusion? We explain the legal status of internal exclusion and look at its use where there are safeguarding concerns. You will find advice on the use of isolation or seclusion in schools and examples of school policies referring to internal exclusion.
- Lunchtime exclusions Can we exclude a pupil for the duration of lunchtime? We relay DfE guidance on issuing lunchtime exclusions, including which parties need to be informed and how to record these exclusions. We also link to another article from The Key with examples of exclusion policies from schools.
- Managed moves and directing pupils off site to improve behaviour Challenging pupils who struggle to regulate behaviour in school can be temporarily directed off site, or part of a 'managed move' to another school. Understand the procedures for each option, and find out about the best way to deal with failed managed moves and non-attendance at alternative provision settings.
- Notifying parents and governors of an exclusion When should we tell parents and governors about exclusions? We summarise the statutory guidance on exclusions from the Department for Education (DfE). We also look at who is responsible for arranging education for pupils who have been excluded.
- Off-rolling: guidance and practical examples The 2019 Ofsted inspection framework includes a focus on a practice known as 'off-rolling.' Find out what it is – and what it isn't – as well as what you can do to address it in your school.
- Permanent exclusions: when are they appropriate? When should a headteacher permanently exclude a pupil? We look at the statutory guidance on exclusions which explains when it could be appropriate to exclude a pupil permanently. We also look at examples of reasons for permanent exclusion from DfE data and school policies.
- Permanent exclusion: what are the costs? Can an LA charge a school if it permanently excludes a pupil? We outline the regulations governing money transferred when a pupil is permanently excluded. We also look at the charge that can be levied if a pupil is not reinstated after a review panel directs the school to reconsider an exclusion.
- Pupil exclusion hearings: procedures Are there guidelines for managing exclusion hearings? We look at procedures for exclusion hearings (also known as discipline committee meetings). This article covers preparation for the hearing, who should attend, evidence to consider, the meeting agenda and how a final decision should be made.
- Reintegration meetings after fixed-term exclusions The Department for Education recommends that schools have a reintegration strategy following a fixed-term exclusion. We've created a template for you to record reintegration meetings as well as pointed out examples of reintegration policies from schools.
- The Timpson review of school exclusion and the government's response: summary The Timpson review has set out several recommendations to reform exclusion practice. Get up to speed on the government's response and what changes you can expect as a result of the review