Here at Southwark, we regard excellent behaviour as essential if our children are to learn and achieve their full potential. We also acknowledge our influence in promoting positive behaviour which will enable our pupils to be successful, life-long learners and responsible citizens.
Southwark Primary School encourages all staff to provide experiences for the development of a number of personal qualities and attributes. As our pupils enter the Early Years & Foundation Stage, we focus on the ‘characteristics of effective learning’ and as our pupils move further up the school we focus on six main learning behaviours: teamwork, determination, focus, curiosity, creativity and reflection. We promote these learning behaviours through all areas of the curriculum, as well as discuss these in assemblies and explicitly recognising, encouraging and celebrating when these are shown.
Our learning behaviours ‘come to life’ in the form of superheroes named The Unstoppables: Creator (creative), Solo (determined), Scianna (curious), Bullseye (focussed), and Reflector (reflective). Why not ask your child about how these superheroes help them to demonstrate each learning behaviour? Consistency and use of a common vocabulary are central to our success in achieving a dynamic and positive learning atmosphere throughout the school.
Working alongside parents is also essential. Through ‘Assertive Mentoring’ meetings with parents, class teachers are able to engage in high quality dialogue, focussing on academic progress as well as the behaviour and well-being of our pupils. We use the communication tool, Class Dojo, to celebrate these learning behaviours which enables rapid, real time feedback of behaviour as well as opening up lines of communication between home and school.
At Southwark, we aim to produce an inclusive environment for all pupils which openly discusses differences between people and celebrates diversity. As a consequence, we aim to provide a safe, caring and friendly environment for learning for all our pupils to allow them to improve their life chances and help them maximise their potential. We expect pupils to act safely and feel safe in school, including that they understand the issues relating to all forms of bullying and that they feel confident to seek support from school should they feel they or others are unsafe. We would also want parents/carers to feel confident that their children are safe and cared for in school and that incidents when they do arise, are dealt with promptly and well. The school is aware of its legal obligations including the Equalities Act 2010. We are aware of our role within the local community supporting parents/carers and working with other agencies outside the school where appropriate
Our Core Beliefs:
All staff at Southwark work tirelessly to minimise the opportunity for bullying to take place. The following strategies are many of the preventative strategies we deploy to promote positive behaviour and discourage bullying behaviour:
If you think your child (or you if you are reading this!) are being bullied or have worried about friendships in or out of school, let us know straight away. There are many ways of doing this including Dojo messaging your child's Hub Assistant Head or Mr Skirton, completing the 'SPEAK OUT' form which is available on the school website, putting a comment in the 'Worried About Bullying' box in your child's hub - you can also come and talk to some one you trust e.g. your class teacher or a Learning Mentor you work with.
Here are some good websites to look at about Anti-Bullying:
https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/bullying-and-cyberbullying/
A copy of the behaviour policy, which is reviewed annually by staff and parent volunteers, is available below alongside other related policies: