Behaviour in a primary school

[Lara2]

Just want to see what happens in other schools re behaviour policies.
We have quite a few very difficult children in school - 2 form entry primary. We have a long history of accepting children who have been excluded from other schools and we usually manage them pretty well.
However, we seem to have more than ever and the place is just bonkers! It feels like they're running the joint. We have a new behaviour policy which, quite frankly, hasn't helped at all and has made matters worse. If a child physically hurts an adult deliberately or swears it's 3 strikes and then exclusion. (Same for disrupting learning or attacking other children). Except it's not happening and we are so pissed off! I have a child in my class who continually attacks anyone without provocation and swears continually - very vitriolic, fucking bitch/cunt etc. She's Year R! All the staff have bruises from her (and another child in my class), and yet they are still in school. SM refuse to acknowledge that people are being hurt everyday, not just in Year R, but throughout the school. What's the point of a policy you don't apply and what's the point of not backing up and supporting your staff??????

[likealaugh]

I work in a primary school too , sounding very similar to you . We are being forced to take on more and more children with additional needs and behaviour problems . Some days it feels that they run the roost . I would suggest a united front with other teachers /LSA's and request a meeting . If you can get more people backing you up you are more likely to be heard . Sad but true . Good luck .

[Littlefish]

I used to work in a school like this. The final straw came for me when a child gave me a massive kick on the shin and called me a shithead because I moved a chair that he wanted to take a running jump over in the middle of the classroom. I took him to the Headteacher and told the Headteacher what had happened. 10 minutes later the child was returned to my classroom as though nothing had happened and with no sanctions.

Basically, the Headteacher refused to act when staff where hit, kicked, spat at, bitten etc. I handed in my notice a week later.

[bronya]

Can you involve your union? On the grounds of being subjected to working practices that put you at risk of physical harm or something similar?

[calzone]

We wrote to Chair of Governors in the end......child was excluded.

No real sanctions in our school.....tis crap....

[CharlesRyder]

Sanctions are a very ineffective method of modifying behaviour because they do absolutely nothing to address the underlying causes.

The problem is that addressing the underlying causes is very expensive so that doesn't get done either.

[Lara2]

I agree that sanctions don't modify behaviour, but they do send the message that the behaviour is unacceptable - to parents as well.
In a very sad way it's good to know we're certainly not an isolated case.

[phlebasconsidered]

In our school too. I got walloped the other day ny a sen child. There are no special school places for the student so they're in class. 29 other kids suffer while we evacuated the class to avoid hurt. A pc and wall display got smashed in. Not to mention the fact that the child whacked me. Were they sanctioned? No. Is it any wonder the rest of the class try it on? Thankfully I am leaving next week. At least that child had needs that partially explained the behaviour. The child who called me a c..t the prior day was just naughty. Parents just denied he said it. No back.up from the school. They are year five.

[insanityscratching]

Dd's school is a school that takes children on managed moves and those who have been excluded elsewhere. OFSTED rated behaviour as outstanding so what happens in dd's school... all names on a peg on neutral, first offence moved down, second offence peg clipped to teacher's lanyard which means that incident will be discussed at playtime/lunchtime and child will be given pointers on how to improve, third offence child takes their peg to HT who will invite parents in to school to discuss. There are no exclusions, a child may have an internal inclusion which means they work on a desk by HT's door.
There are though, alongside, reward schemes that rotate termly so raffle tickets for a prize draws each Friday, stickers to earn certificates, beads to earn the class reward, lots and lots of incentives to behave tbh dip box treats, table points etc etc.
It seems to work there anyway it's a lovely school (in a highly deprived area) teachers and pupils have very good relationships and I think they then use those good relationships to ensure that behaviour is good.

[Lara2]

Now I think it's all totally bonkers! We got a report from the local SEN school after their outreach visit to my class for my sweary/violent child. One of the points of advice was: Avoid saying No!
WTF???!!! Now I do understand the concept (and agree with it)of saying "Please walk" rather than "Don't run". But what the hell do I say when she's swearing or being violent other than stop or no???

[Justtoobad]

It's disgusting the behaviour, why should a primary school child be allowed to do that when in secondary school there is NO way they could swear, kick, storm out, abuse etc (not good enough to say they're only 10 yrs)
It's down to parents, but of course we all have to pick up the pieces.

[Ambergold]

Behaviour in our school has got worse, no sanctions etc and several weeks ago TA's we told not to give consequences to pupils, it's the teachers job , it's insane. Violent behaviour from pupils to pupils and staff is just shrugged off. So depressing. All down to head teacher, it's madness.

[Ambergold]

*were told

[Dayshiftdoris]

As a parent with a child with SEN / challenging behaviour I despair...

There is minimising of incidents that occurs until I point a school want rid (been in the situation) then it's 'zero tolerance' until managed move or exclusion

Whoever said it's about understanding the causes of behaviour was spot on but I disagree that proper support is 'expensive'...

Exclusion is more expensive and the damage done to the staff, the other pupils and the child behaving in that way is unmeasurable but far heftier...

This issue, is not about SEN - it's about poor management and actually your Governing Bodies need to know. The changes to SEN is greater inclusion of children with more complex needs and the thresholds for specialist support are higher than ever - teachers are going to expected to manage so much more and the children will be protected in law more than have been.

I live in constant fear that my son will hurt someone - his behaviours i have fought very hard to have assessed and understood - anxiety driven from his ASD. His school don't have specialist training but a bit of collaborative support is getting us through (just) but if that wasn't there we would be doomed.

This kind of argument needs to stop being about the child and more about finding solutions to the problems faced

[EverythingCounts]

I can see totally that the children in these situations need appropriate support that addresses the underlying causes in order to stop this behaviour. But it is really not good in the meantime that staff feel so unsupported by their heads and places of work. Imagine this in any other working environment.

[Dayshiftdoris]

What like health or social care?

Or even in retail?

Or the leisure industry?

Or the emergency services?

Do not fool yourself that you are the only ones facing threatening behaviours with unsupportive managers.

It's not nice or easy but again those are adult issues - you are an adult and have a choice. That child does not

[Happy36]

This might sound insane but can you call the police??