Ethos
At Prudhoe Castle First School our ethos is who we are and at the heart of everything we do;
Caring Achievements Success Teamwork Learning Equality
The Curriculum and Learning
We believe that an appropriately structured curriculum and effective learning contribute to good behaviour. Through planning for the needs of individual pupils, the active involvement of pupils in their own learning, and structured feed-back all help to avoid the alienation and disaffection which can lie at the root of poor behaviour.
It follows that lessons should have clear objectives, understood by the children, and differentiated to meet the needs of children of different abilities. Marking and record keeping can be used both as a supportive activity, providing feed-back to children on their progress and achievements, and as a signal that the children’s efforts are valued.
Classroom Management
Classroom management and teaching methods have an important influence on children’s behaviour. The class room environment gives clear messages to the children about the extent to which they and their efforts are valued. Relationships between teacher and children, strategies for encouraging good behaviour, arrangements of furniture, access to resources and classroom displays all have a bearing on the way children behave.
Classrooms should be organised to develop independence and personal initiative. Furniture should be arranged to provide an environment conducive to on-task behaviour. Materials and resources should be arranged to aid accessibility and reduce uncertainty and disruption. Displays should help develop self-esteem through demonstrating the value of every individual’s contribution, and overall the classroom should provide a welcoming environment.
Teaching methods should encourage enthusiasm and active participation for all. Praise should be used to encourage good behaviour as well as good work. All teachers receive annual training in classroom management.
Rules and procedures
Rules and procedures should be designed to make clear to the children how they can achieve acceptable standards of behaviour.
Rules and procedures should:
- Be kept to a necessary minimum;
- Be positively stated, telling the children what to do rather than what not to do;
- Be consistently applied and enforced;
- Promote the idea that every member of the school has responsibilities towards the whole.
Aims
At Prudhoe Castle First School we aim to:
- Learn in a well ordered, attractive, friendly and stimulating environment.
- Be respected for our personal qualities, valued for our achievements, and acknowledged for our individual needs.
- Be encouraged to become confident, enthusiastic, self-motivated and independent learners.
- Have well-planned, organised and balanced learning opportunities in which high standards will be encouraged.
- Be expected to keep the school rules, show understanding and respect for others and be a worthwhile member of the school community.
Parents, pupils and staff are encouraged to have high expectations. The school aims set out clearly what the children of Prudhoe Castle 1st School can expect.
We believe that high-quality teaching promotes effective learning and encourages good behaviour.
Aims in regards to Behaviour
- To create an environment which encourages and reinforces good behaviour.
- To ensure that pupils take responsibilities for their actions and accept the consequences of their behaviour choices.
- To define acceptable standards of behaviour.
- To encourage consistency of response to both positive and negative behaviour.
- To promote self-esteem, self-discipline and positive relationships.
- To ensure that children complete assigned work to a high standard
- To safeguard all children and staff
- To ensure that the school’s expectations and strategies are widely known and understood.
- To encourage the involvement of both home and school in the implementation of this policy