Zero Tolerance, No Excuses...what should happen to pupils who can’t behave?

[noblegiraffe]

There are an increasing number of schools across the country adopting ‘No Excuses’ behaviour policies where the slightest misdemeanour is cracked down on and punished. Children are removed from the classroom and isolated if they break the rules. The level of expulsions is creeping up.

A tribunal has just criticised a school for putting its zero tolerance behaviour policy above the education of a child with special needs.
The student has ADHD and epilepsy, the behaviour policy was applied rigidly and the school now has to issue a letter of apology to the student for its failure to make reasonable adjustments.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/academy-put-zero-tolerance-policy-above-pupils-education-tribunal

Do you think that schools should be allowed to have zero tolerance?

[TalkinPeace]

Only if there is a PRU with the capacity to take them for a few weeks to get to the bottom of the problem.

When PRUs are used well they have excellent results.

If there is no PRU provision then the school should sort it in house.

[noblegiraffe]

But if the problem is ADHD then it’s not solvable?

[TalkinPeace]

If there are learning difficulties then it should be dealt with in house.
Or in a dedicated SEN unit within the school
Or in an SEN unit within the LEA
But as we know, funding is the biggest issue for all schools.
Did you see this report?
jamescowperkreston.co.uk/downloads/academies-benchmark-report-2018.pdf

[TheFrendo]

A school round here used that policy to deliberately exclude SEN children. There is a need for some latitude and flexibility in dealing with behaviour.

[noblegiraffe]

But Talkin I’ve taught students with ADHD who don’t need to be in an SEN unit, they just need to be cut a bit of slack in the classroom. Should they be forced out of mainstream just because they can’t adhere to rigid expectations of perfect behaviour?

[TalkinPeace]

No, absolutely not.
If they can be integrated into the classroom with appropriate support, that is the best use of taxpayers money.

Excluding difficult kids is a sign of poor management

[Wheresthebeach]

There is a school round here that has zero tolerance. Kids are excluded from class and taught separately if they disrupt normal classes. So they don't lose out educationally, and the other kids don't have their education disrupted. Very effective. School gets great results.

The problem with 'cutting them some slack' is how much and to what detriment of other students. My DD is dylextic and what really, really affects her ability to concentrate is talking/noise/disruption. So giving ADHD kids slack could really affect another SEN student, not to mention the other 28 kids in the room.

[noblegiraffe]

So only those with certain SEN should have reasonable adjustments made?

[noblegiraffe]

So essentially, tiggy you don’t think that students with ADHD belong in mainstream?

[Floottoot]

Surely punishing a SEN child for SEN behaviours would break the Equlity law?

[lljkk]

Do you think that schools should be allowed to have zero tolerance?

No, I can't agree with something that unforgiving. Not same as saying tolerant of everything either. They can't be expected to keep kids who are threats to selves or others in the ordinary school environment, for instance.

[Onceuponatimethen]

I agree with you op. I upset someone who was saying how wonderful her school like this was by pointing out my sn child wouldn’t last 5 minutes.

Like many dc with sn no dx but clear issues with impulse control and anxiety among other things.

Aside from these concerns more generally I also feel the approach taken would be one no adult would put up with in the workplace and rightly so. School is not prison.

[Onceuponatimethen]

Tiggy, the two children you describe would often be the same child. Many children with asd can’t base loud noise and sudden breaks in routines but yet can panic. Special schools manage that.

Children with hfa often don’t need ss and wouldn’t be catered for there

[noblegiraffe]

As a teacher I’m trying to picture knowing that a kid had something awful going on at home and still punishing them for not having a pen or doing homework or whatever. No excuses schools say that this is the caring thing to do

[RavenWings]

I think it is something that's best judged on a case by case basis, and also looking at how the education of other kids in the classroom is being impacted.
Zero tolerance as a blanket rule isn't good, but neither is inclusion at all costs.

[Ionacat]

I’ve worked in a school with zero tolerance, however it was backed up with a unit where support could be given to those struggling in class so not isolation as such and we involved parents very quickly. Some pupils had individualised timetables, they had support to be integrated if removed, LSA support, ELSA support, pastoral support was there if needed and zero tolerance worked because the support was there for those who needed it. Behaviour was exemplary and this was in a school in a tough area. If done properly, it can and does work.

[lljkk]

(not talking about SN, I don't know about that)
Some kids respond very badly to pressure. Nothing to be gained by punishment regime except making them terrified to walk thru the door. They'll ant to bunk off instead, if they have forgotten a pen & know they will get punished for it.

[Floottoot]

Nobel, my husband and I had to take in a friend of DD's overnight when her mother tried to kill herself. We took her into school the next day and delivered her to the wellbeing team and head of key stage. She had a home ec. lesson that day, but obviously didn't have her own ingredients - we simply gave DD enough quantities for 2. The teacher refused to listen to her explanation and punished her by making her sweep the floor after the rest of the class, saying that it wasn't the first time the girl had not brought her ingredients (true - her mum was in crisis and wasn't together enough to buy them).

[lljkk]

*want...

[noblegiraffe]

Bloody hell Floot that’s awful.

[NotMeNoNo]

It is a handy indicator of a school to avoid at all costs. Indicates massive ignorance on the part of the senior management. That is our experience anyway.

[ShackUp]

I can't think of one adult that doesn't ever (a) get things wrong (b) forget things (c) occasionally kick off/become rude. Expecting children to hold it together all day long, especially those with SEN, is clearly discriminatory. (I teach in a secondary school).

[BarbarianMum]

Ds1's school is pretty zero tolerance for bad behaviour. It works well for children with certain special needs (very popular with children with autism fi) as it is a very rigid and calm environment with predictable rules. SENCO is very on the ball with applications for statements (I know they are not called that now but can't think of the correct acronym) when children require more support. Children whose special needs mean they can't manage to work quietly and constructively in a class of 30 spend more time taught in smaller groups in the unit. I don't know whether they/their parents would think that was a good thing or not.