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Embed confidence; fuel ambition.

Embed confidence; fuel ambition.

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For Parents and Carers

Behaviour & Relationships

At Lawnswood School, we firmly believe that one of the key components of good behaviour is a strong working relationship between the school and parents/carers.


We would like to give parents/carers some information about our approach to managing student behaviour and developing important relationships within school. Hopefully, as a result of this, you will be better informed and therefore better equipped to work with us to ensure that your child reaches their full potential.

Lawnswood Aims

We are committed to a restorative model of managing behaviour in school. We aim to provide and maintain a calm, harmonious environment in which all members of our school community feel safe, valued and able to contribute. As an inclusive school, we recognise, reflect and celebrate the skills, talents, contribution and diversity of all our members. Students respond positively to positive actions from staff. Forming positive relationships in and out of the classroom can eradicate negative behaviour patterns and support behaviour management in the classroom. We want our students to be able to learn and develop into responsible citizens. As a school we want to;

  • create a vibrant community where we work together, respect differences, treat one another with justice, tolerance and respect;
  • ensure our students are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to undertake the next stage or their career;
  • foster leadership and engagement to encourage our students to make a positive contribution to both our school and community;
  • offer all students a broad and balance curriculum that leads to positive outcomes;
  • offer a range of activities, visits and trips that help students develop the skills and knowledge to take an active and positive role in the world;
  • engage with members of our community to support opportunities of learning, experience and social skills;
  • provide and maintain an attractive, secure, safe and healthy school environment;
  • create a culture of exceptionally good behaviour: for learning, for community, for life;
  • ensure that all learners are treated fairly, shown respect and to promote good relationships;
  • refuse to give learners attention and importance for poor conduct;
  • help learners take control over their behaviour and be responsible for the consequence of it;
  • build a community which values kindness, care, good humour, good temper, obedience and empathy for others;
  • promote community cohesion through improved relationships; and
  • ensure that excellent behaviour is a minimum expectation for all

Ready, Respect, Safe

At Lawnswood we have three rules; Ready, Respect, Safe. Are our students ready to learn? Are students being respectful to others and their environment and finally are they safe? All other expectations are underpinned by these three. This helps us to provide clarity and consistency across the school. Where students display serious aggressive and/or threatening behaviour, or illegal activity is discovered, the school will not hesitate to take appropriate action.

Staff will impose consequences as they see fit depending on the context, behaviour, and age of the student. Consequences are detailed below but the list is not exhaustive:

  • verbal warning;
  • cautions on ClassCharts so that behaviour can be communicated home and monitored;
  • in-class isolation;
  • subject support room;
  • planned subject withdrawals for a short period only;
  • communication home (via phone calls, letter and ClassChart announcements)
  • report cards
  • behaviour contracts
  • referral to Lawnswood Guidance and Support Team;
  • intervention workshops
  • internal isolation (reintegration)
  • suspension; and
  • permanent exclusion

Reflections

All reflections are held after school and are tiered, from Green 15 minute, Amber 30 minute and Red 60 minute reflections. If a red reflection is failed or not attended, it will result in the student being isolated whilst we understand the reasons for them not attending and then reintegrate back into lessons.


Celebrating our Students

We aim to increase students’ self-esteem through consistent, meaningful, positive rewards. We recognise and reward learners who go ‘over and above’ our standards. Although there are tiered awards, our staff understand that a quiet word of personal praise can be as effective as a larger, more pubic, reward. Rewards should be personalised and can be given by any member of staff in school. At Lawnswood we award ‘commendations’ on ClassCharts for a range of positive behaviours both in and out of the classroom. Recognition of good behaviour is important and we do this in a variety of ways:

  • weekly commendation recognition, a random draw for an Amazon Voucher based on weekly commendations;
  • Hot Chocolate Friday, where staff nominate students who have gone above and beyond. Students receive a certificate and a hot chocolate;
  • Post Cards and Emails home to recognise individuals;
  • Half-Termly Reward Events, 200 students are recognised for commendations – the most improved students, good attendance and positive contributions;
  • Prize Giving Event in the Summer Term – this takes place each year and subject nominations are awarded to students across the school;
  • Community Trips in the Summer Term – starting in 2023 we are starting what we hope will be an annual event where we give students the opportunity to take part in a community trip
    • Year 7 – Cinema
    • Year 8 – Yorkshire Wildlife Park
    • Year 9 and Year 10 – Alton Towers

Help and support for parents and carers

Having a child attend any school is a three-way partnership between the school, parents/carers and the young person. Parenting is not always easy and we have a wide range of people available to help parents and carers with any issue they might have. Please ring the school to seek an appointment with your Head of Year if you would like to discuss how we can help you.