DERRYCLOUGH N.S.

SCOIL IOSAF

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Introductory Statement

The purpose of this Code of Discipline is to facilitate an environment in which

the students can grow and mature spiritually and physically, intellectually and
emotionally.

Rationale
In consultation with the Board of Management the school seeks to promote the
qualities of respect for self and others and to provide an environment in which
the children can achieve their true potential. Discipline is seen as a necessary
requirement to create a safe, secure and orderly atmosphere to facilitate pupil
learning. This is the rationale behind the schools Code of Discipline.
Aims
The aims of the Code of Discipline are as follows: To ensure that the individuality of each child is accommodated as far as
possible while acknowledging each childs right to be educated in a
disruption free environment.
To promote self-discipline among the children while seeking to enhance
the childrens self-esteem.
To promote positive behaviour in the school.
To cultivate self-respect and respect for others.
To provide an environment which would help to create effective learning.
To seek the moral, spiritual, aesthetic, cultural, psychological and
intellectual growth of each child in the school.
Relationship to School Ethos
In keeping with the schools ethos of promoting a positive environment in the
school, the schools Code of Behaviour aims to affirm good behaviour and
respect for others.
Relationship to staff/children/parents/Board of Management
The schools Code of Discipline needs the co-operation of all partners in the
Childs education to function effectively.
The teachers strive to adopt a positive attitude to behaviour in the
school.
It is important that the parents consistently impress on their
children the necessity to have respect for themselves, their
classmates, teachers and other staff in the school. Children learn
that school rules are there for the benefit of all and that any sort of
inappropriate behaviour is not tolerated in the school.
The Board of Management has discussed and approved of this Code of
Discipline.

Policy content

The discipline policy outlines the schools rules of conduct, which are necessary
if discipline within the school is to work effectively.
It also outlines the sanctions which the school has laid down for breaches of
these rules and for serious misdemeanours.
Rules of Conduct
These have been subdivided into three main areas: General School Behaviour
Classroom Behaviour
Playground Behaviour

General School Behaviour

The school starts officially at 9.20 a.m. and closes at 3.00 p.m. Junior
and Senior Infants finish at 2pm. Children are expected to be punctual
for school and collected promptly at 3pm. The school is usually open at
9am but children should not be left unattended if there is no teacher
present when they arrive. The school cannot accept responsibility for
children outside these times.
No child should leave the school during the school day without the
expressed permission of the School Principal or class teacher. Parents
should inform the class teacher by note, phonecall or by calling in
personally if the child has to leave the school early for any reason.
Following all absences due to sickness or other reasons the child will be
required to bring in a note to the class teacher from his/her parent/s.
The school are obliged to inform the Education Welfare Office where a
student accumulates 20 or more days during the school year.
Any infectious illness should be notified to the school and if necessary a
note supplied by the doctor for the well-being of the other children.
Children who are sick should not be sent to school in the interest of the
other children. It is important to check your childs head regularly for
head lice and use a suitable remedy if necessary. If your child has a
particular health problem please inform the school.
Parents are required to check childrens homework is done and sign the
homework notebook. A note/explanation will be required when homework
is not done. This may be written in the Homework Diary.
Children are expected to display courtesy to the staff, to each other and
to all adults with whom they come into contact within the school.
Children are expected to be truthful and honest in all their dealings with
the school and with each other.
It is expected that the instructions of the teaching staff will be obeyed
at all times.
School property and furniture must be respected and any damage must
be compensated for.
In keeping with the desire to promote health and well being of the
children, healthy lunches are encouraged. Friday is Treat Day if children

wish to bring a treat. Children have two breaks and have ten minutes at
each break to eat lunch sitting at the benches in the hall.
Children should have respect for their environment and strive at all times
to keep the school clean and litter free.
School uniform is to be worn each day during school hours. All clothes and
belongings should be clearly marked with the childs name.
Each child should have a change of footwear for indoors. Each child has a
cubby hole for shoes and a hook for coat and lunch bag.
Chewing gum is not allowed in school.
Mobile Phones are strictly forbidden in school.

Classroom Behaviour
It is most important that disruptive behaviour should be discouraged. To this
end:
Mutual respect, courtesy and honesty is required of each child in the
classroom.
Instructions given by the teacher must be obeyed.
Abusive or bad language is not allowed.
Repeated talking to another child, during lessons, is not allowed. Pupils
must stay in their places unless told otherwise and this is particularly
important if the teacher is called from the room.
Pupils should keep unhelpful hands, feet, objects and comments to
themselves.
Children should seek the permission of their class teacher to go to
the toilets.
Each child is expected to do the work set out for both class and
homework to the best of his/her ability and present work neatly.
Playground Behaviour
Yard supervision is carried out by the teachers during their breaks. The safety
of the children while playing is of paramount importance. Therefore the
following rules apply for the playground:
The teacher on duty must be obeyed at all times.
Obscene, disrespectful, aggressive, hurtful or abusive behaviour is not
tolerated.
Games involving pulling, dragging, kicking, fighting, teasing, bad language
or other activities liable to cause hurt or injury to others are not allowed
under any circumstances.
Children may not retrieve the ball from outside the school premises
without asking the permission from the teacher on duty.
Children are not allowed to sit or stand on the front wall.
On hearing the whistle children must come immediately and line up in the
schoolyard. Children then change into indoor shoes.
Children are not allowed to run in the corridor area
Implementation

Every member of the school community has a role to play in the implementation
of the Code of Behaviour. Rules will be kept to a minimum, emphasise positive
behaviour and will be applied in a fair and consistent manner, with due regard to
the age of pupils and to individual differences. Good behaviour will be
encouraged and rewarded. Where difficulties arise parents will be contacted at
an early stage.
Relationships are built when individuals feel valued and respected.

Affirming positive behaviour

Positive reinforcement of good behaviour leads to better self-discipline and we
place a greater emphasis on rewards and incentives than on sanctions.
Strategies
A quiet word or gesture to show approval
A comment on a childs exercise book
A visit to another class or teacher for commendation
Praise in front of the class group
Delegating some special responsibility or privilege
Verbal communication with parents
Stickers and ticks which lead to small prizes when accumulated
Discouraging misbehaviour
The purpose of sanctions and other strategies is to promote positive and
discourage misbehaviour. Sanctions will be applied according to the gravity of
the misbehaviour, with due regard to age and emotional development.
This may include:
Reasoning with the pupil
Verbal reprimand including advice on how to improve
Temporary separation from peers within class
Prescribing extra work
Loss of privileges
Detention during break
Communication
Referral to Principal
Communicating with parents, parents may be asked to give an
understanding that the unacceptable behaviour will cease.
Exclusion (Suspension or expulsion) from school in accordance with Rule
130 of the Rules for National Schools as amended by circular and
Education Welfare Act 2000.
Pupils will not be deprived of engagement in a Curricular area except on the
grounds of health and safety.

While the Board of Management and teaching staff respect the individual rights
of every child in the school, we must also be aware of the rights of the children
as a whole. The rights of the teachers to work in as stress free an atmosphere
as possible must also be respected.

Suspension/Expulsion
Before serious sanctions such as suspension or expulsion are used, the normal
channels of communication will be utilised.
For gross misbehaviour or repeated instances of serious misbehaviour
suspension may be considered. Parents concerned will be invited to come to the
school to discuss their childs case. Aggressive, threatening or violent behaviour
towards a teacher or pupil will be regarded as serious or gross misbehaviour.
Where there are repeated instances of serious misbehaviour, the Chairperson
of the Board of Management will be informed and the parents will be requested
in writing to attend at the school to meet the Chairperson and the Principal. If
the parents do not give an undertaking that the pupil will behave in an
acceptable manner in the future, the pupil may be suspended for a period. Prior
to suspension, where possible, the Principal may review the case in consultation
with teachers and other members of the school community involved with due
consideration to records of previous misbehaviours, their pattern and context,
sanctions and other interventions used and their outcomes and any relevant
medical information. Suspension will be in accordance with the Rules fro National
Schools and the Education Welfare Act 2000.
In the case of gross misbehaviour, where it is necessary to ensure that order
and discipline are maintained and to secure the safety of the pupils, the Board
may authorise the Chairperson or Principal to sanction an immediate suspension
for a period not exceeding three school days, pending a discussion with the
parents.
Expulsion may be considered in an extreme case in accordance with the Rules for
National Schools and the Welfare Act 2000. Before suspending or expelling a
pupil, the Board shall notify the Local Welfare Education Officer in writing in
accordance with Section 24 of the Education Welfare Act.
Removal of Suspension
Following or during a period of suspension, the parents may apply to have the
pupil reinstated to the school. The parents must give a satisfactory undertaking
that the suspended pupil will behave in accordance with the school code and the
Principal must be satisfied that the pupils reinstatement will not constitute a
risk to the pupils own safety or that of the other pupils or staff. The Principal
will facilitate the preparation of a behaviour plan for the pupil if required and
will re-admit the pupil formally to the class.

Board

of Managements Responsibilities
Provide a comfortable and safe environment
Support the Principal and staff in implementing the code of discipline
Ratify the code

Principals Responsibilities
Promote a positive climate in the school
Ensure that the Code of Discipline is implemented in a fair and consistent
manner
Arrange a review of the Code as required
Teachers Responsibilities
Support and implement the schools Code of discipline
Create a safe working environment for each pupil
Recognise and affirm good work
Prepare school work and correct work done by the pupils
Recognise and provide for individual talents and differences among pupils
Be courteous, consistent and fair
Keep opportunities for disruptive behaviour to a minimum
Deal appropriately with misbehaviour
Keep a record of instances of serious misbehaviour or repeated instances
of misbehaviour
Provide support for colleagues
Communicate with parents when necessary and provide reports on
matters of mutual concern
Pupils

Responsibilities
Attend school regularly and punctually
Listen to teachers and act on instructions/advice
Show respect for all members of the school community
Respect all school property and the property of other pupils
Avoid behaving in a way which would endanger others
Avoid all nasty remarks, swearing and name-calling
Include other pupils in games and activities
Bring correct materials/books to school
Follow school and class rules

Parents/Guardians Responsibilities
Encourage children to have a sense of respect for themselves and for
property
Ensure that children attend regularly and punctually
Be interested in, support and encourage their childrens school work
Be familiar with the code of behaviour and support its implementation
Co-operate with teachers in instances where their childs behaviour is
causing difficulties for others
Communicate with the school in relation to any problems which may
affect childs progress/behaviour