Behaviour Policy

Our vision at STMC Marsaskala St. Anne Primary School is to provide a quality learning and teaching environment where every child and adult is given the opportunity to develop their full potential.

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2012) and the Framework for Education Strategy for Malta (2012-2024) encourage children and educators to work together and learn from each other, within an inclusive, safe and orderly environment.

 

Aims of the Policy

  • to safeguard human dignity through the provision of a safe, secure, positive and caring school community that encourages learning, positive peer and teacher relationships, self-motivation, self-esteem and self-discipline;
  • to encourage and develop in students a strong sense of responsibility towards others and a clear understanding of the consequences of their decisions and actions;
  • to encourage parents to help their children support and show respect towards the school’s authority

 

Basic Principles

The Behaviour Policy is based on the following principles known as the Golden Rules:

We try our best!                                                                                   

We are honest!

We treat everyone equally!

We play together!

We want to be safe, responsible and respectful!

We expect everyone to follow the Golden Rules which are based on these shared values:

hard work                                         teamwork                                       helpfulness

kindness                                            respect                                              trust

fairness                                              friendship

We discuss the Golden Rules with the children during assemblies and our everyday interactions.  Each class will then together decide their own rules: their Silver Rules.  Both Golden Rules and Silver Rules are displayed in each classroom.

 

Strategies and Procedures: Positive Behaviour

Catch Them Doing Something Good

Everyone should set out clear expectations at all times.  Children need to be aware that positive behaviour will be rewarded.  Both during lessons and out in the yard students are expected to be on their best behaviour.

Carrying on the work assigned, paying attention and actively participating in lessons, working in a team, showing good manners, playing safely and not doing anything to endanger others are all good examples of positive behaviour which can be rewarded.

When positive behaviour is shown by an individual child:

  • the student is given encouraging verbal comments;
  • a note is sent to the student’s parents / guardians;
  • the student is sent to the Assistant Head of Section/Head of School for praise;
  • a certificate is presented to the student at the end of every month (Star of the Month);
  • an award for outstanding behaviour is given during Celebration Day for every Year Group.

When all the students show positive behaviour, then the class will be rewarded through a token system.  The group can take up to 3 tokens a day.  [1]Tokens are placed in a container and can be exchanged through points.

Children themselves, together with their class teachers, can come out with ideas for rewards.  These are some ideas which can be used:

  • Extra 15 minutes playing time = 10 points;
  • Picnic in school area = 20 points;
  • An outing of the students’ choice = 30 points;
  • An extra sport session = 50 points.

When tokens are used, these are to be returned to the Assistant Head of Section.  Students can decide not to use the tokens so as reach a higher target.

 

Sanctions for Unacceptable Behaviour

All stakeholders should be aware that unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated within STMC Marsaskala St. Anne Primary School.  The following are examples of behaviour which may result in sanctions:  shouting in class, throwing things at each other, talking over the teacher, name calling, aggressive or violent behaviour, bullying (refer to School’s Anti-Bullying Policy) damage to school property, swearing and stealing.

Although it is difficult to draw up a definitive list of examples of inappropriate behaviour, the above give us an idea of what is and what is not acceptable in our school.

Senior Mangement Team (SMT) and teachers will use their professional knowledge and judgement when supporting children who display challenging or inappropriate behaviour. The Nurture Group will work in collaboration with class teachers when necessary.

As a fully inclusive school, we understand that some children need more support than others. Staff is trained in calming down techniques and how to deal with challenging behaviour. However, a child may have an Individual Behaviour Plan and a separate system for rewards and sanctions in addition to the whole school rewards and sanctions. This is agreed upon by the SMT, HOD Inclusion, parents/guardians, adults working with the child (refer to [2]National Inclusion Policy).

Every effort will be made to be patient and to help the child understand why her/his behaviour is not acceptable. However, when children persistently break Golden or Silver Rules, the following sanctions are put in place in the following order:

  • the student is given a verbal warning[3];
  • the student discusses inappropriate behaviour with the teacher and is given a task to carry out to help the school environment;
  • the student is sent to the Assistant Head of Section/Head of School who will speak to the child and inform parents about the misbehaviour; if needs be, a referral to the Guidance Team and/or Psychosocial Team will be made;
  • the student will be referred to the Prefect of Discipline who will speak to the student and then discuss with the Head of School actions to be taken.

If the child continues to misbehave, then it is being recommended that the Class Teacher logs incidents which s/he can use for further reference.

Conclusion

The main objective remains to inculcate a good and positive behaviour amongst all learners. They need to settle in a school environment which leads to personal achievements and enables them to engage in active learning.

Learners need to understand that they have to accept the responsibility for their own behaviour and that positive or negative behaviours have consequences which increase or reduce choices in life.

  

[1] Kindergarten classes, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 will have soft coloured cotton which they can put in jars.  While as Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 can have tokens printed on coloured paper.

[2]https://education.gov.mt/en/resources/Documents/Policy%20Documents/inclusive%20and%20special%20education%20review.pdf

[3] For Kindergarten students we can use traffic lights and show the red light when a student is showing bad behaviour.