Behaviour, Discipline And Restraint In Schools

WHAT IS THE SCHOOL BEHAVIOUR POLICY?

Your child’s school will have a behaviour policy. This policy will detail how the school expects the children to behave on the school premises, on school trips and outside of the school away from the premises. It details standards of behaviour and what sanctions can be given when these behavioural standards are disobeyed. 

The school behaviour policy must be available to all students, parents and school staff. Some schools are required to publish their behaviour policy on their website.

LINK TO SECTION 89(1) OF THE EDUCATIONS AND INSPECTIONS ACT 2006 (behaviour policy for maintained schools).

LINK TO PART 3 OF THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS 2014 FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS STANDARDS ENGLAND (behaviour policy for academies) 

LINK TO SCHOOLS INFORMATION REGULATIONS FOR ENGLAND 2008 (publish behaviour policy on website for maintained schools).

WHAT SHOULD A BEHAVIOUR POLICY CONTAIN?

A few things a schools behaviour policy should contain are:

1. List of prohibited items that a child is not allowed to bring onto school premises. It should be made clear that a search of the child, their bag, desk or locker can be conducted if the school feels a child has one of these items on the premises.
2. The roles of staff members with regards to the behaviour policy.
3. The training of staff members with regards to the behaviour policy.
4. What discipline or sanction should be administered and when for a breach of the behaviour policy.
5. Explanation that the purpose of the behaviour policy is to make the school safe for all concerned.
6. When to search a child, their bag, desk or locker and when force can be used.
7. When to restrain a child and when force can be used. 

CAN A SCHOOL DISCIPLINE A CHILD IF THEY DISOBEY THE BEHAVIOUR POLICY?

The school can punish a child if they disobey the school’s behaviour policy. A punishment is often referred to as a sanction.

Examples of sanctions are:

1. Confiscation of an item that cannot be brought into school.
2. Detention after school. Any child under 18 years of age can be given detention. A parent doesn’t have to be informed if their child has been given detention but most schools do inform the parent.  
3. Reduced break time
4. Reduced lunch time. However the child must be given enough time to eat. 
5. Verbal warning
6. Deprive a child of a reward.
7. School based community service such as tidying the library.
8. Giving of additional homework
9. Write a letter of apology
10. Removal from a classroom. A parent will have to be informed on the day by the school if their child was asked to leave a class. 
11. Suspension from school
12. Placing a child in isolation.

CAN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT THE SCHOOL HAS GIVEN?

You cannot overturn a detention but you can complain if you feel a punishment was excessive, unjust, unreasonable, or discriminatory. You must follow the school complaints procedure.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR COMPLAINING TO AND ABOUT UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS. 

RESTRAINING A CHILD AT SCHOOL

All school staff members (including individuals in charge of pupils at the school with the permission of the head teacher such as parents on a school trip and volunteers) can use reasonable force to restrain a child at school. They can do this under section 93 of the education and inspections act 2006

LINK TO SECTION 93 OF THE EDUCATION AND INSPECTIONS ACT 2006.

Whenever a child is restrained in school the parents must be notified. 

Some of the reasons why a child can be restrained are:

1. Stop a child harming themselves or others
2. To take a disruptive child out of a classroom.
3. To stop a child disrupting a play, event, school trip or lesson.
4. To stop a child leaving the school premises.

Schools are required to make concessions and adjustments for how to restrain a child with a disability and with special educational needs.

LINK TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GUIDE FOR USE OF REASONABLE FORCE