Behaviour
At West Ewell Primary School, we place great value on fostering an environment characterised by excellent behaviour and respectful relationships. We believe that high-quality teaching and effective pupil learning flourish within a positive, inclusive school community. This culture is reflected in the consistent, respectful interactions of all staff, who engage with pupils using strong interpersonal skills and genuine involvement.
Our approach to behaviour management is informed by the work of Paul Dix, whose principles emphasise consistency, positive relationships, and the importance of clear boundaries. We believe good behaviour and positive attitudes to learning are essential for children to thrive in a happy, secure, and caring environment. Every member of our school community should feel a strong sense of belonging. We consistently expect high standards of behaviour from pupils and require all adults to act as excellent role models. Positive behaviour reflects our school values, readiness to learn, and respect for others. It is both modelled and explicitly taught so pupils understand which behaviours are expected and encouraged—and which are not tolerated.
When concerns arise, our approach is to reduce the likelihood of bullying by promoting respect for all, a genuine ethos of inclusion, and a clear understanding of everyone’s rights and responsibilities. From a child’s earliest years, our well-developed PSHE programme encourages open and honest discussions about relationships. We use Restorative Approaches to repair and rebuild any damaged relationships.
Our aims are to:
- Create a positive culture that promotes excellent behaviour, ensuring all pupils can learn in a calm, safe, and supportive environment.
- Establish a whole-school approach that maintains high standards of behaviour aligned with our five school values.
- Provide a consistent restorative approach to behaviour management, applied equally to all pupils.
- Clearly outline expectations and consequences for behaviour that falls below our standards.
Our Behaviour Rules
We have three simple behaviour rules that underpin our community:
Ready, Respectful, Safe.
Our behaviour “golden thread” is:
- We are always kind.
- We own our own behaviour.
- We are a no shouting school.
We subscribe to the view that bullying is:
‘Behaviour by an individual or group usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally’.
‘Advice for School Leaders, staff and Governing Bodies on Preventing & Tackling Bullying’ DfE (July 2011)
We recognise that bullying can come in different forms: physical, verbal, relational (being left out, ignored or spreading rumours) or cyber (online, messaging for eg). It can occur due to perceived differences and can take place in the presence of others (bystanders).
We have a zero tolerance on bullying and have a range of sanctions at our disposal should it occur. We will always formally record any instances of bullying behaviour and would involve parents at the earliest opportunity.
Please see our Behaviour Policy and Anti-bullying policy for full details.
You can view our Behaviour Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy in the Key Information and Policies area
These websites give specific advice regarding anti-bullying:
www.bullying.co.uk/advice-for-parents
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Bullying/Pages/Bullyingadviceforparents.aspx#sthash.IRDRcdPu.dpuf
