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DSCF: Responding to Behaviour that Disrupts Teaching & Learning
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In a series of reports over recent years, Sir Alan Steer has considered the key evidence on improving behaviour and attendance, and made a number of recommendations for Government, schools and others, which have shaped the work done by the DSCF in support of schools.
His recent, final report brought all of this evidence together, drawing extensively on the views of heads, teachers and others and on some of the most effective practice in schools. In response, on 30 September the Secretary of State launched the Behaviour Challenge, a new strategy for achieving the aim that every school should have good, not just satisfactory behaviour, including a plan of action in response to Sir Alan Steer's recommendations.
Five things you can do to continue improving behaviour:
1. Make sure that consistent, excellent teaching practice underpins your plans to improve behaviour
Good behaviour is vital for teaching and for learning; and excellent teaching and learning underpins good behaviour. To help schools to build consistent, excellent teaching and learning practice, the Behaviour Challenge indicates the importance of developing clear teaching and learning policies as a fundamental basis for improving behaviour and raising achievement. The DCSF will be issuing advice shortly, drawn from schools' own best practice.
2. Base your strategies on the 'what works' principles
In 2005, a group of expert practitioners identified ten principles. These principles draw together proven best practice and are set out in the publication What works in schools.
3. Keep talking to parents and pupils about improving behaviour
Consult on your behaviour policies and communicate them clearly and regularly - on your website, in school and through regular contact. The DCSF has published Working together for good behaviour in schools: Information for parents and carers, a booklet aimed at parents to help raise their awareness of schools' powers to discipline and of their responsibilities and rights.
4. Work with other schools to share your expertise. Get closer support from the police and local agencies in a Safer School Partnership
Safer School Partnerships between schools and the police help to engage young people, keep schools safe and reduce antisocial behaviour in the wider community. They also foster a better relationship between young people and the police. Evaluations show that they are proving effective in improving behaviour and attendance.
Changes to the law currently before Parliament will mean that every secondary school, pupil referral unit and academy will be required to be in a behaviour and attendance partnership. These enable schools to share best practice and work together in dealing with the most challenging pupils. Guidance for school partnerships to improve behaviour and persistent absence is already available and will be updated shortly.
5. Make sure that teachers and other staff in your school know the full extent of their legal powers to discipline, and can use them confidently
Guidance is available to help schools understand their overall legal powers and duties as regards establishing a school behaviour policy and disciplining pupils, along with practical advice on how to promote good behaviour and on the range of sanctions available to schools. There is also the School discipline: your powers and rights leaflet produced jointly by NASUWT and the DCSF (2009).
Behaviour and attendance on TeacherNet
In addition to the information mentioned in the five key points above, the Behaviour and attendance section of the TeacherNet website includes guidance on:
Attendance: This section covers current guidance on the 2006 pupil registration regulations that govern the admissions and attendance registers that all schools must keep; the current regulations and guidance for attendance targets as set by LAs; and LA duties and legal measures to ensure attendance and guidance and effective practice in dealing with attendance issues. It is supported by a section on the parental measures for behaviour and attendance - including parenting contracts and orders and prosecutions.
Exclusion: This section includes the most recent guidance on when and how exclusion should be implemented, and procedures for appeals against exclusion. There are training materials for exclusion appeal panels.
Alternative provision: This section includes the latest guidance and legislation with regard to alternative provision and pupil referral units and information about the current strategy to modernise alternative provision, Back on Track, launched in May 2008.
Tackling school bullying:This section includes a range of Safe to Learn guidance on tackling all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying. A new leaflet, Cyberbullying: Supporting school staff, provides advice for school staff and their employers about keeping themselves and their personal information safe.
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27 Oct 2009 by George Matthews
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