Behaviour

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.

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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.

Anti-Bullying at Southwark

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:

• Pupils have a right to learn free from intimidation and fear.
• The needs of the victim are paramount.
• School will not tolerate bullying behaviour.
• Bullied pupils will be listened to.
• Reported incidents will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

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:

• Clear expectations for high standards of behaviour for all pupils across the school.
• Promotion of British Values and celebrating diversity and difference across the school
• Upholding Southwark’s 11 key values
• Comprehensive and thorough SRE programme from FS – Y6
• E-Safety taught in discreet lessons as well as part of regular computing lessons, assemblies, whole school parent events, newsletters, Dojo etc.
• Anti-bullying events held throughout the year including assemblies
• Weekly PSHE sessions covering issues such as anti-bullying
• Themes such as anti-bullying included within long term plans in subjects such as English Guided Reading with texts chosen appropriately, along such themes
• Staff training related to peer-on-peer abuse with clarity on how to respond, investigate and deal with any incidents of peer-on-peer abuse.
• Clear protocols for staff, pupils, and parents/carers to follow if there are any concerns
• Safer Internet Day in February
• ‘Concerned about Bullying’ box within each hub
• Kindness jars in each classroom to promote thoughtful and kind acts
• Behaviour Dojo linked to friendship – rewarding acts of friendship
• Proactive and reactive programmes for vulnerable groups or groups involved in bullying including learning mentor interventions.
• Support for parents and families through the school website and targeted support for parents affected
• Speak out button on the website for parents/children to alert concerns linked to bullying which sends an email direct to Head Teacher and DSL.

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: