Behaviour Curriculum

At St Joseph’s Primary and Nursery School, we’re passionate about developing children’s character through our dedicated behaviour curriculum. We believe that character-building is fundamental to helping our pupils grow into kind, responsible adults who are always polite, respectful, and considerate of others. To achieve this, we have clearly defined the behaviours and habits we expect our students to demonstrate regularly.

During the first term of each academic year, we focus explicitly on teaching these behaviours. Our teachers model and demonstrate these essential habits, setting a clear example for the children to follow. We understand that practising these behaviours consistently will over time turn them into automatic routines. As our pupils begin to internalise these behaviours, their self-esteem grows, and they develop a positive perception in the eyes of others. 

We are aware that every child is unique and has different needs, which is why our behaviour curriculum is designed to cater to all pupils. However, we recognise that the application of these principles may look different across year groups, adapted to suit varying ages and individual educational needs. For instance, some children might struggle with maintaining eye contact or frequently demonstrating ‘wonderful walking’. In such cases, staff must approach the reinforcement of the behaviour curriculum with sensitivity and understanding, ensuring each child feels supported and encouraged. 

At St Joseph’s, we’re committed to nurturing a school environment where every child can thrive. By promoting these behaviours in all areas of their lives, we aim to create a respectful community where everyone feels valued and inspired to be their best selves. Together, we can foster an atmosphere that nurtures character development, establishing firm foundations for our pupils’ future endeavours.

Behaviour Curriculum 2024

Rules: Ready, Respectful and Safe

For the safety and well-being of everyone in the school community, it is necessary for us to work within a set of expectations.
Our school expectations are clear and simple. They are displayed around our school, are used consistently and are linked with consequences. Be Ready, Be Respectful and Be Safe are the three rules which underpin our behaviour policy.
Ready – Ready to learn, ready to listen, ready to participate.
Respectful – Respect for themselves. Showing respect to their peers, to adults, to our environment.
Safe – Safe in their learning environment, safe with the people around them and safe in the activities in which they are taking part.
ReadyRespectfulSafe
School UniformListen to others and expect to be listened toBe in the right place at the right time
Full equipmentAppropriate language and toneNo physical contact
ListeningLook after the building, displays and equipmentStay safe online, both in and out of school
Be on timeRepresent St Joseph’s at its best, both in and out of schoolReport any problems to an adult

Support

 Self-regulating space: The Zen Den

Initial contact with a member of SLT to determine whether there needs to be some time in this area.
Opportunity to talk, access support and reset. This is a quiet space using sensory aids and well-being resources, until the pupil is ready to talk and access support to help regulate their emotions.

Classroom Support

Calm and easy on every step with plenty of take-up time. Resist the urge to jump steps.

 

Reminder / Redirection
Gentle encouragement, a ‘nudge’ in the right direction, small act of kindness.
A reminder of the expectations Ready, Respectful, Safe delivered privately wherever possible. Deescalate and decelerate where reasonable and possible and take the initiative to keep things at this stage.
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Caution (5 minutes)
A clear verbal caution delivered privately wherever possible, making the learner aware of their behaviour and clearly outlining the consequences if they continue.
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Time out (15 minutes)
Give the learner a chance to reflect away from others. Speak to the learner privately, reset expectations, allow time for tempers to calm down and give them a final opportunity to engage.
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Internal separation 
At this point the learner will be referred internally to another space for the remainder of the lesson.
Removal from lesson is a sanction.
All internal referrals must be recorded on Teams.
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Reparation (following Time out / Internal separation)
A restorative meeting should take place before the next lesson.
Teacher’s choice: catch up, restorative conversation, imposition, detention, or natural consequence.
If the learner does not engage or the reconciliation is unsuccessful the teacher should call on support from the Headteacher who will support the reparation process.
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Formal Meeting
A meeting with the learner, teacher, Headteacher and parents with agreed targets that will be monitored over the course of two weeks.

At St Joseph’s, we take bullying very seriously.

To tackle this issue head-on, we’ve attached a poster that outlines how we approach bullying with our children. It’s important for us that our students feel safe and supported, so we make sure everyone knows what steps to follow if they ever feel uncomfortable or hurt.

Behind the scenes, our dedicated staff team conducts thorough investigations whenever a bullying situation arises.

We’ve also put some effort into understanding our children’s perspectives on bullying: we do this through surveys and interactive questioning, which allows them to share their thoughts and feelings openly.

Together, we can create a positive environment where every child feels valued and respected.