ROSELYN HOUSE SCHOOL / THE RHISE SERVICE
BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Current situation
Since March 2020, Roselyn House School and The RHISE Service have been following strict protective measures using Bubbles and zoning in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
From September 2021, following consultation with students, parents / carers and staff, we have decided to continue with the separate groups. Moving forwards to September 2022, there will still be some elements of groups remaining, which is in the best interest of students, as they may have known no other system and for them it would create increased anxiety if they were placed together as a whole school pre-pandemic. We have learnt that such groupings place less pressure on students in terms of interactions with other students and have promoted a more positive attitude to learning and relationship forming.
We have ongoing updated risk assessments in line with updated DfE, Local Authority and Union Advice.
We have 4 groups.
Group 1 and Group 2 based at the main school building.
Group 3 is made up of Admin and Tech Support staff. These staff are based at the main school building.
Group 4 are based at The RHISE Centre. This cohort is then split into Group A and B.
On Friday, one group starts at the usual time (9:25am) and finish earlier (2:40pm). The second group starts later (10.10am) and finishes later (3.25pm) This is the same amount of time spent at school and will allow enrichment activities to take place.
The RHISE Centre holds sessions for RHISE Service individuals and has Sixth Form Groups leads based there. For students, the day begins at 10:00am and ends at 3:00pm.
With the majority of COVID 19 guidelines now obsolete, Roselyn House School and The RHISE service are still recommending the following. If a child is feeling unwell, has a persistent cough, high temperature or lack of taste/smell then they should stay at home until the temperature has gone.
Teaching staff move to the classroom to deliver lessons. We understand that the expectation of our students to stay in the same room for a morning or afternoon is a difficult one, so we will be having staggered break times and ‘get up and move’ time.
Class groups will be in Year groups or Key stages and will have support. There will be a maximum of 8 in the class group. They have a Support Assistant.
Lessons follow National Curriculum and are broad and balanced.
Hot lunches are provided in the classroom daily, unless a group requires a packed lunch due to an educational visit.
We have installed hand sanitiser stations around school in each zone and frequent handwashing is encouraged. Classroom desks are wiped down during the day and the whole school cleaned in the evenings. Windows and doors are left open to increase ventilation and minimise touch points within school. There are CO2 monitors in classrooms and office areas and readings are taken on a regular basis.
Each group is in School 5 days per week and have minimal cross over with other students from different groups. We continue to have Vocational Programmes with Alternative Providers which are fully risk assessed.
If a child becomes ill at school with suspected Covid-19 symptoms, they will be taken home. If a child is feeling unwell, has a persistent cough, high temperature or lack of taste/smell then they should stay at home until the temperature has gone.
We expect students where they can, to comply with this way of working and to follow the Behaviour Policy and maintain a good level of positive behaviour towards the systems which have been put in place for everyone’s safety.
This policy has been written with understanding and reference to:
Behaviour and Discipline in Schools – DfE January 2016
Developing an Attachment Aware Behaviour Regulation Policy – Brighton and Hove September 2018
This policy should be read in conjunction with other school policies relating to interaction between adults and students. In particular Roselyn House School’s Behaviour Support and Physical Intervention Policy and Safeguarding Policy.
The responsible people for the implementation of this policy are the Headteacher, Business Manager, Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator and Group Leads. The policy will be reviewed annually by the Headteacher in consultation with the staff.
INTRODUCTION
The Independent School Standards, Regulations (2014) make it a legal requirement that a written policy to promote good behaviour is drawn up and effectively implemented which sets out disciplinary sanctions. This also works alongside the school’s anti-bullying strategy and Safeguarding Policy.
This policy is produced in consultation with all staff so as to be clear and understood. It is available by request, in the school prospectus and on the school website. The following ten key aspects of school practice have been addressed to contribute towards improving the quality of pupil behaviour,
SEMH difficulties is an overarching term for children who demonstrate difficulties with emotional regulation and/or social interaction and/or are experiencing mental health problems.
Children and young people who have difficulties with their emotional and social development may have immature social skills and find it difficult to make and sustain healthy relationships. These difficulties may be displayed through the child or young person becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as through challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour.
At Roselyn House School, we experience a wide range and degree of mental health problems. These could manifest as difficulties such as problems of mood (anxiety or depression), problems of conduct (oppositional problems and more severe conduct problems including aggression), self-harming, substance abuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Some children and young people may have other recognised disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), attachment disorder, autism or pervasive developmental disorder, an anxiety disorder, a disruptive disorder or schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Inappropriate / disturbing / challenging behaviours can be interpreted as a symptom or communication of an underlying need or difficulty. In order to address such behaviours, we must address these underlying needs / difficulties. It is crucial to identify, understand and then address/support the underlying factors that impact on children and young people, such as Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties, attachment difficulties, unhelpful thought processes or learning needs.
Some inappropriate / disturbing / challenging behaviours can be avoided or significantly reduced and managed through proactively promoting and supporting positive social, emotional and mental health. Roselyn House School tolerates a wide variety of behaviours but does not accept them as inevitable and unchangeable. An individual’s behaviours will be prioritised and through planned intervention and adherence to the rewards and sanctions in the policy, ensure that the consequences to behaviour are specific and limited.
All systems, teaching and management of the school focus on the promotion, establishment and internalisation of socially acceptable and appropriate behaviours for example, the Roselyn House School Code and individual IEBP’s.
The objectives may best be achieved by a mutually supportive whole school approach and a whole staff responsibility to work within the agreed parameters of the Behaviour Policy and its procedures.
Roselyn House School endeavours to reinforce the behaviour policy through the valued partnership with parents/ carers and they will be asked to complete behaviour/ emotional literacy profiles to help staff at Roselyn House School to develop a greater understanding of their child.
We have a whole school approach to creating an inclusive and positive school ethos around behaviour. We place a strong emphasis on the emotional health and wellbeing of all members of our school community. SEMH needs are central to the effectiveness of our school and an Attachment Aware approach to our Behaviour Policy.
The NHS and DfE established a National Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce in September 2014 and produced the report: ‘Future in Mind – promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing’. This was published in March 2015. This document recognises that attachment relationships have a direct bearing on children’s capacity to succeed in school. It emphasises that relationships and a sense of belonging, are key to good mental health for all, but are essential for children who have experienced multiple relational losses and trauma. The DfE have published Mental health and wellbeing provision in schools October 2018 which outlines the duties on schools to promote and protect the welfare of their pupils, as set out by Government guidance, ‘Keeping Children Safe In Education’ September 2021. There are also duties on schools to ensure pupils with additional educational needs, including those in relation to mental health, are provided with adequate support to learn, as set out in, ‘Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0-25 years.
Overall
Everyone will always act with courtesy and respect for each other and all students have the right to learn in a safe environment.
AIMS
Purpose of Policy
These aims can be achieved by being attachment aware in the following ways:
Key points for staff from DfE Guidance
PROHIBITED SANCTIONS
OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL
AROUND THE SCHOOL
POSITIVE HANDLING – for further guidelines see Management of Violent Behaviour
Positive handling should only be used to prevent the young person from harming him/ herself, others or from damaging property. Sections 550A of the 1966 Education Act allows teachers, and other persons who are authorised to have control or charge of students, to use such force as is reasonable in all the circumstances to prevent a student from doing, or continuing to do any of the following:-
Behaviour should be viewed in relation to its antecedents within the four main areas.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
CURRICULUM
BEHAVIOURAL MANAGEMENT
SOCIAL MANAGEMENT
Consistency is achieved by adherence to the school’s graded menu of rewards and sanctions.
Praise should outweigh negative comment.
Rewards |
Sanctions |
Body language |
Body language |
Public praise |
Silent reprimand |
Private praise |
Private reprimand |
Placed on own to work |
Public reprimand |
Responsibility – in class |
Placed on own to work in classroom |
Responsibility – in school |
Work finished in own time |
Stickers (class) |
Removed from class for short period |
Record of achievement |
Loss of activity/Friday afternoon |
Display of work to others (Headteacher) |
Work outside classroom |
Display of work on wall |
Sent to Headteacher with work |
Mention in assembly |
Letter/phone call to parent |
Points/Rewards system |
Involve parents/home visit |
Report to parents |
Work outside class group/timetable
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School certificates for effort |
Fines to repair damage – determined by extent of repair |
School certificates for achievement |
Fines to pay for false fire call - £140 |
School certificates for termly achievements |
Fines to pay for discharge of fire extinguishers - £160 |
School trophies |
Community service |
Vicarious reinforcers |
Parents/ carers asked to come to school |
Intermittent class reinforcers |
Restorative Justice Conferences |
Intermittent class reinforcers |
Cause and effect meetings |
End of day letters |
Cool off period away from school |
Personal reports to parents/carers by letter/phone call |
Involvement of Police |
Class merit |
LEA/other agencies asked to come to school |
Trip out of school |
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Others negotiated with the student |
STUDENT MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE
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SOCIAL SKILLS MANAGEMENT |
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BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT |
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PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT |
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The concept of PUNISHMENT has not been found to be effective in altering patterns of behaviour in children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties.
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Punishment might create frustration in the student, which could be vented on a victim later.
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Our alternative is to use sanctions that are a logical consequence of unacceptable behaviours in order that the child may begin to take responsibility for their own actions.
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Similarly, acts of good behaviour need to be recognised and positively reinforced.
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Such strategies are not guaranteed to succeed. They take a lot of patience, require an appropriate timescale and flexibility of implementation, but have an optimum likelihood of altering unacceptable student behaviour.
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The formulation of positive strategies is dependent in many variables and is under constant review. Some ‘logical’ strategies fail whilst more ‘unorthodox’ one’s work. So, it is important to appreciate the unpredictable nature of a child’s reaction when deciding which strategy to employ.
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On some occasions there may be unforeseen adverse reaction to a considered strategy.
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Strategies are more likely to succeed if they are agreed with the student, fully understood by all concerned, undertaken against an appropriate time-scale, have an easily achievable objective and are evaluated and rewarded with praise to enhance self-esteem. Pastoral times often address the issues.
The Secure Base Model (Schofield and Beek 2014) is a resilience- based model that provides a framework for therapeutic caregiving that focuses on caregivers and young people. Over time positive caregiving provides a secure base over five dimensions which can help the young person explore, learn and develop in a positive direction.
Provides a SECURE BASE which for many of our students is SCHOOL. |
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DETERMINATION OF NEEDS |
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SELF ACTUALISATION The need to realise your own potential and self-fulfilment. |
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AESTHETIC NEEDS Needs for art and symmetry. |
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COGNITIVE NEEDS Needs for knowledge and understanding. |
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ESTEEM NEEDS Needs for deserved praise. |
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LOVE AND BELONGING The need to affiliate. |
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SAFETY NEEDS The need to be free from fear, to be able to depend upon someone. |
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PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS The need for food, warmth, shelter, etc. |
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If staff become aware of needs other than academic ones these will be discussed at staff meetings and appropriate agencies informed. This is in order to work in a multi-disciplinary way as identified in “Working Together”.
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When determining children’s needs it is helpful to do so against a specific framework. When assessing student’s needs staff may consider the Hierarchy of Needs developed by Abraham Maslow (see diagram above).
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It is unlikely that higher order needs can be effectively addressed if the lower order have not been met.
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Children frequently mask their true needs. For instance, it is common for students to direct anger and frustration at displacement targets, whilst the true cause lies in a different direction. These anxieties are usually based in unresolved social needs. To resolve the problem, accurate identification of the cause is required.
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Staff may expend much effort and time in meeting lower order needs so that work tasks can be successfully undertaken.
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There are many impediments on the path to achievement. These include short concentration span, disruptive behaviour, testing-out behaviour, attention-seeking behaviour, displacement activities, frustration, fear of failure, fear of new work tasks, violent mood swings, destruction of work and many other factors, all of which must be addressed or contained, by the teacher.
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The end-product of work achieved often does not reflect the considerable effort involved. Even so the masterpiece frequently appears slap-dash and comparable to the product of a much younger child.
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Our students have had long experience of academic failure, social rejection and alienation. They feigned unconcern for achievement at the slightest pretext, but they do respond to praise. Staff build on success, not failure.
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Progress is frequently slow, fragmented and often impeded by behaviour problems, low attendance and other inhibiting variables. Flexibility is required and a wide range of Teaching/ Learning strategies are employed.
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Student’s personal and social development relies heavily on the ability of staff to accurately identify and meet social and academic needs. Determining children’s needs with accuracy is best achieved on an individual basis with the student, an ideal use of Learning Support Mentor Sessions.
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Staff work towards providing an environment where children experience consistency, safety and stability through which students can achieve and grow. In doing so developing an emotionally literate ethos. |
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BEHAVIOUR TARGETS |
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When identifying possible target behaviours staff review relevant records.
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Staff are required to set behaviour targets for each student in their Learning Support Worker Group on the IEBP record in the following manner:
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(1) |
After discussion staff identity target behaviour. |
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Staff target behaviour in terms of observed social behaviour. |
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(3) |
State strategies and provision intended to alter target behaviour. |
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Feedback IEBP to staff briefing. |
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Inform student of the target and negotiate time scale if appropriate. |
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Evaluate and comment upon effective outcomes. |
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Record targets in teaching and learning folders.
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All targets should be SMART: |
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Specific |
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Measurable |
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Achievable |
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Realistic |
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Timed
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To set behavioural targets, staff assess behaviour in the following way:
Observed behaviour is stated in exact terms, generalisations for e.g. ‘He hits children when passing their seat’.... NOT....’He is disruptive’.
Specific behaviour can be altered. Generalisations are “fuzzy” to deal with in terms of developing control strategies.
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Behaviour targets relate to classroom and out of class behaviours. A formal Observation Assessment is continually being developed with the School.
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The starting point should be short, clearly achievement targets that will ensure success and promote increased self-esteem. These can then be extended as appropriate.
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Success relies on positive attitudes, a sensitivity to the student’s responses and the imaginative ability to provide a variety of context for students to practice positive self-management. |
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MANAGEMENT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR |
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Aspects of behaviour common in students who display severe emotional and mental health difficulties.
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Many students experience extreme mood swings which may involve a range of behaviours that demonstrate an emotional fragility.
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At such times students can react to their circumstances with increasing hostility and aggression.
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Disruptive behaviour is often a symptom of fear, failure or frustration. Frequently, children do not identify the true cause of their anxiety or emotional distress but fixate on an alternative “supposed” cause.
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Real or imagined slights, minor disruptive incidents, or tensions within the teaching group, can provoke triggering incidents which invoke hostile responses in an emotionally fragile student.
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With or without staff support to defuse the student’s tension and frustrated behaviour, the child may display an outburst of violence.
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Outbursts of violence may be exhibited, the cause of which may originate out of the school or even to the child’s history. |
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INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR |
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The level and nature of appropriate staff support, or intervention, will wherever possible depend on the attitude and behaviour of the student.
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When the staff observe tension, the initial approach should be low key and appropriate.
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The student’s response determines the route by which staff manage the child’s difficulties. In many cases it is possible to divert the child away from violent outcomes.
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In some cases, the student will dismiss all avoidance options, suggested by staff and persistently escalate aggressive behaviour towards confrontation and a violent outcome.
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Some situations can escalate very quickly.
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During an escalation staff should decide whether to summon support to take other measures to safeguard the health and safety of all present. |
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PRINCIPLES GOVERNING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS |
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Staff may use many options and strategies to manage disaffected students. The selection of specific management techniques depends, in part, on the personality, character and temperament of individual staff. No set of strategies guarantee a successful outcome to behavioural confrontations. However, the following principles should govern management decisions:
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It is essential that staff, when managing disruptive students, should remain objective and calm, in both speech and actions. It is not possible to effectively manage students when one becomes subjective and “heated” by the circumstances.
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It is important to listen and respond quietly to the student, rather than overwhelm the child with loud and insistent directives (loud, nagging demands).
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If no immediate solution is obvious, ask, if appropriate, if one may deal with the difficulty at an agreed later time. Imposing an immediate “solution” may not dispel the student’s frustration, or defuse unacceptable behaviour, whereas time-distancing problems can (sometimes) do.
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Avoid attitudes becoming polarised. Staff should keep their position flexible for as long as possible, without losing their objective. One should rarely push towards a confrontation.
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Always maintain positive attitudes that are constructive. By stressing positive behaviours regularly, one reinforces desired attitudes in students. Refer to the children’s previous achievements and promote self-esteem.
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In confrontations, negative factors should be stated in a neutral tone of voice. Factual statements should be used as the basis for staff/student discussion.
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Always “clarify” options and consequences, rather that impose directives or make unachievable “threats”. Students must be made aware that it is they who make the decisions and that those decisions have obvious consequences. They make choices.
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Create “diversionary” displacement activities, involving other people in order to dispel the student’s aggression. Resist becoming “cornered” in an argument, one becomes defensive very easily, avoid it. It takes two to sustain arguments.
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Decide, when appropriate, to involve other adults in support. Management of disruptive behaviour requires individual, undistracted attention. Supporting adults can encourage rational, sympathetic, supportive attitudes in the other group members, in order to “talk round” the aggressive student.
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When support is available, remove the student from an “unhelpful” environment. Don’t allow negative peer group “encouragement”. Withdrawal can often enable staff and students to focus more clearly on difficulties and resolve them through two-way discussion or conversation.
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Staff must assess the risks, promote physical safety and do everything possible to prevent injury. |
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PRINCIPLES GOVERNING POSITIVE HANDLING OF VIOLENT STUDENTS |
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When aggressive students escalate confrontations to a violent outcome, staff, as far as possible, should promote physical safety for all students involved. This may require positive handling of aggressive students.
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No management strategies, including positive handling, which involve the deliberate ill-treatment of children by staff are acceptable (e.g. pulling hair, punching, emotional abuse, etc).
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Violent students may be positively handled by being held by the forearm, withdrawn, if appropriate, or seated until calm. The Team-Teach methods will always be used.
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In extreme circumstances, such as the violent student attempting injury to self or others, the student should be brought to the ground gradually by the application of mechanical advantage and should be held, if possible, in a front recovery position on the floor and held until calm. If the student is kicking out at others, a third member of staff may be required to hold the student’s legs.
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In exceptional circumstances with very strong and aggressive children and young people it may be necessary to employ the use of Team Teach Ground Advanced Recovery Holds. Staff involved in such strategies will make strenuous efforts to the ground recovery safeguards published by Team Teach.
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Later when calm the student should be asked to be seated, if they so wish, and discuss the reason for the outburst. Discussion should include other, more acceptable, options or decisions through which the causes of the violent outburst could have been resolved. This follow up action is the crucial element of support for violent children. It is essential that staff devote enough time to this aspect of management of violent behaviour. An Incident Reflection Form may be used to “de-brief” the child.
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Any injury should be examined, treated and recorded by the qualified First Aid staff.
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The incident must be recorded on the Incident Monitoring Record and reported to the Headteacher and/or Deputy Headteacher and the incident recorded as a serious incident. Those involved will be advised of the course of action they may wish to take. For serious criminal damage and/ or assault offences, the Police may be contacted, and this could result in the young person being prosecuted. Roselyn House School will work closely with all parties involved and will follow the Safe School’s Partnership Agreement with Lancashire Constabulary.
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For assault (by student on student or student on staff or staff on student or parent on staff etc) the Headteacher and/ or Deputy Headteacher should be notified and the incident recorded as a serious incident. Those involved will be advised of the course of action they may wish to take. In the case of an alleged assault, the Senior Leadership Team will speak directly to the alleged victim and they will be asked if Police involvement is required. In the case of an alleged assault on a student, parents/ carers will be consulted also. If a student is subsequently arrested following the Police being informed then a ‘cool off period’ will be put into place for the alleged perpetrator and a meeting set up with the LEA and parents/ carers and any other agencies that may be involved. This process will adhere to Roselyn House School’s Exclusion Policy Guidelines. The young person out of school will continue to be supported by Roselyn House School and education provided. A meeting will be arranged within a reasonable time scale in order to discuss the outcome of any prosecution/conviction. If the length before prosecution is prolonged, an individual package of education will be provided off the school site. This may apply in the case of a student who has allegedly assaulted another student(s). By providing such a ‘cool off period’ for a student, it allows the Police/ School to investigate the incident without prejudice. It stops any further incidents occurring or discrimination forming. It is a system which helps keep both the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator safe from any further risk. If there is no conviction following a Police investigation, then the young person will return to school following a Restorative Justice Meeting and be provided with supported re-integration. If the young person is convicted, then a discussion will take place as to whether the placement is still viable for the young person or whether an alternative, individualised package should be put into place. This may consist of learning/ teaching off site and vocational placements, for example.
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A list of “Team Teach” trained and authorised staff will be detailed in the staff room.
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All staff, however, may support and the Team Teach “help protocol” will allow them to play their part in the process. All staff are obliged to act within their “duty of care”, however there is an expectation that authorised and trained staff will be utilised first and foremost with regards to a positive handling intervention.
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Staff and children involved in positive handling will receive a de-brief with their Line Manager or the Headteacher, whichever is most appropriate. |
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THE POSITIVE HANDLING OF A VIOLENT STUDENT |
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IT IS CONSIDERED THAT ACTION UNDER THIS HEADING WILL NORMALLY ONLY BE NECESSARY IN A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF INSTANCES.
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Prior to exercising containment, the staff should advise/warn the student that this is about to happen.
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If it becomes necessary to physically contain/ hold a violent student to avoid injury, the amount of force used must be the minimum necessary to hold the student safely. Any offensive act towards a child such as punching, hitting or slapping is totally unacceptable. Sudden violent pushing which results in the child/ young person falling over is also unacceptable, whereas a steady push or pull to separate the aggressor from the victim might be appropriate. Staff will be operating within the specified guidelines and their actions will be evaluated in this context after any incident of violent behaviour.
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The length of time a student is contained/ held, and the degree of force used will be the minimum necessary to achieve the immediate objective of regaining control of the situation. As soon as it is safe, positive handling should be gradually relaxed to allow the child to regain self-control.
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Whenever possible, a member of staff faced with a situation where physical intervention is thought to be necessary should call for assistance so that there are at least two members of staff present when a student is being contained/ held. If more than one person exercises the positive handling, less strength is required, and the risk of injury is reduced. However, it is important to remember that the greater number of staff involved, the less efficient a positive handling procedure becomes. Communication between staff can break down, resulting in a melee of arms, legs and raised voices.
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If it is necessary to contain/ hold a girl, a female member of staff must be present from the earliest possible time.
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Throughout the exercise of containment/ positive handling, the student should be spoken to in a quiet and soothing manner to encourage the speedy return of calm and self-control. The staff holding should make it clear that the student will be released as soon as calm is restored.
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At no time during or after positive handling must clothing be forcibly removed from a student.
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Footwear may need to be removed to prevent damage/ injury.
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Data analysis of records will be made at regular intervals and appropriate evaluations discussed with all staff. |
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METHODS OF POSITIVE HANDLING |
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A situation should be made safe and where possible Team Teach Positive Handling Methods used.
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In some circumstances a small child can be held sufficiently to calm down by an adult putting an arm around the child holding the child’s arm or shoulders. Care is needed if arms are held since a struggle could result in an arm being wrenched or broken. The risk is minimised if the other arm is held. Generally, the most useful form of positive handling is to hold the student with both arms in a “wrap”.
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The above method of positive handling may not be suitable for an older child or young person, but the positive handling applied should not extend beyond holding with both arms engaged and employing controlled use of the weight of the body. At no stage of positive handling should there be any offensive behaviour towards a student/child. The positive handling should be applied in order to defend a student from harming himself/herself or others.
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The positive handling of a very violent young person or large stature is likely to place the staff restraining in some danger of injury, and the risk will be reduced if other staff are called. On no account should members of staff attempt to out-wrestle a large and violent aggressor merely to re-establish control. If this sort of incident occurs, then the Police should be called, and the staff effort should be directed towards the protection of themselves and other students.
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Training on Team Teach Positive Handling does not include techniques which rely on grips to joints of the body, which cause pain or risk of injury if the person under positive handling resists. On no account should a student be held by the neck. Techniques should rely on mechanical advantage and power (biomechanical efficiency) of the staff imposing the positive handling to prevent the child or young person moving his arms and, where necessary, legs. The most appropriate form of positive handling should be used with the minimum of physical contact.
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Members of staff who are attacked by adults should not try to restrain them. The member of staff concerned should attempt to isolate him or herself from the aggressor and call the Police.
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Inclusive with the Team Teach system of negative behaviour management is the requirement that staff will receive regular training in deflection, diffusion, minimising behaviours and with the positive handling. An ongoing system of practice will ensure that all staff are aware of correct procedures. |
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EXEMPLAR SPECIFIC HANDLING POLICY |
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Physical intervention will only be used as an option of last resort when staff perceive that they have no alternative course of action.
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A Behaviour Management Plan – incorporating Positive Handling Plan will be completed during an individual student’s initial assessment period; where at risk reduction will be considered.
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The plan will provide a history of strategies which have tried and failed or succeeded. These will include:
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Proactive interventions to prevent risk of challenging behaviour. |
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Early interventions to manage risk of challenging behaviour. |
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Reactive interventions to respond to adverse outcomes.
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The plan will be reviewed termly in collaboration with students, staff and parents/ carers.
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On admission to the school, parents/ carers and students will agree to the planned use of restrictive interventions and a consent form will be signed.
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Emergency use of physical intervention may be required when a student behaves in a way that has not been foreseen by risk assessment. Ideally the use of physical interventions in this situation will be agreed by two staff members. |
CONFISCATION OF INAPPROPRIATE ITEMS |
There are two sets of legal provisions which enable school staff to confiscate items from pupils:
1) The general power to discipline (as described in the bullets under the heading “Discipline in Schools – Teachers’ Powers” on pages 3 and 4) enables a member of staff to confiscate, retain or dispose of a pupil’s property as a punishment, so long as it is reasonable in the circumstances. The law protects them from liability for damage to, or loss of, any confiscated items provided they have acted lawfully.
2) Power to search without consent for “prohibited items” including:
Weapons and knives and extreme or child pornography must always be handed over to the police, otherwise it is for the teacher to decide if/when to return a confiscated item.
More detailed advice on confiscation and what must be done with prohibited items found as a result of a search is provided in ‘Screening, Searching and Confiscation – advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies. See Associated Resources section below for a link to this document.
Conclusion
By applying Attachment Aware principles to our Behaviour Policy, we aim to encourage an inclusive approach which achieves better outcomes for our students at Roselyn House School. This will empower staff to respond in a way that is empathetic but boundaries, firm but kind. We should not confuse empathy with sympathy or condone/avoid consequences for negative behaviours. When young people feel heard, understood and cared about they begin to express emotions in a more positive way. This benefits all.
Date of Policy reviewed: January 2020
Updated March 2020 following Covid-19 Pandemic and rules from the UK Government
Updated July 2020 following Covid-19 Pandemic and rules from the UK Government for a full school return in September 2020
Reviewed June 2021
Reviewed June 2022
Reviewed by: S Damerall