Parent/Carer Code of Conduct

Learning at Stivichall is a passport for life

Statement

Stivichall Primary School is a caring school which aims to create a stimulating learning environment in which every individual has the opportunity to be the best that they can be.

Code of Conduct

At Stivichall Primary School, we value our strong relationship with parents and carers. Together, this helps us to achieve the very best for our children in a mutually supportive partnership between parents, class teachers and the school community.

As a partnership, our parents understand the importance of a good working relationship to equip their children with necessary skills for adulthood. For these reasons, we continually welcome and encourage parents and carers to participate fully in the life of the school.

To truly create the best outcomes for children requires the relationship between home and school to be based on the principles of care, integrity, trust and mutual respect. The maintenance of this relationship is important to ensure that a child or children are safe and not open to undue distress and anxiety.

Guidance

Parents, carers and visitors are reminded:

to respect the caring ethos and values of the school
that both teachers and parents need to work together for the benefit of the children
approaching school staff for help to resolve an issue is done in an appropriate manner
all members of the school community are treated with respect using appropriate language and behaviour
the school needs to work with a child in order to clarify their version of events in order to bring about an appropriate solution to an issue
to correct their child's actions especially where it could lead to conflict, aggressive or unsafe behaviour – both on and off the school premises
to use other strategies rather than using school staff as threats to admonish their children's behaviour.

In order to support a peaceful and safe school environment, the school will not tolerate parents, carers or visitors exhibiting the following:

disruptive behaviour which interferes or threatens to interfere with any of the schools operation or activities anywhere on the school premises
any inappropriate behaviour on the school premises
using loud or offensive language or displaying temper
threatening, in any way, a member of school staff, visitor, fellow parent/carer or pupil
damaging or destroying school property
sending abusive or threatening emails, or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communications to anyone within the school community
defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the pupils/parents/staff at the school on Facebook or other social sites (see Appendix 1)
The use of physical or verbal aggression towards another adult or child. This includes physical punishment against your own child on school premises
approaching someone else's child in order to discuss or chastise them because of the actions of this child towards their own child. (Such an approach to a child may be seen to be an assault on that child and may have legal consequences)
smoking, taking illegal drugs or the consumption of alcohol on school premises (alcohol may only be consumed during authorised events)
dogs being brought onto school premises, other than guide dogs.

Should any of the above occur on school premises, the school may feel it necessary to take action by contacting the appropriate authorities and/or sadly, consider banning the offending adult from entering the school premises.

Thank you for abiding by this policy in our school. Together we can create a positive and uplifting environment not only for the children, but also for all who work in, and visit our school.

Note – please can parents ensure that they make all persons responsible for collecting their children aware of this policy.

Appendix 1

Inappropriate use of Social Network

Social media websites are being used increasingly to fuel campaigns and complaints against schools, Headteachers, school staff, other parents and in some cases, pupils.

The Department for Education/Government and the Governors at Stivichall Primary School considers the use of social media websites being used in this way as unacceptable. Any concerns you may have about the school or your child/children must be made through the appropriate channels by speaking to the class teacher, the Headteacher or the Chair of Governors, where they will be dealt with fairly, appropriately and effectively for all concerned.

Libellous or Defamatory posts

In the event that any pupil or parent/carer of a child/children at Stivichall Primary School is found to be posting libellous or defamatory comments on Facebook or other social network sites, they will be reported to the the appropriate 'report abuse' section of the network site. All social network sites have clear rules about the content which can be posted on the site and they provide robust mechanisms to report contact or activity which breaches this. The school will also expect that any parent/carer or pupil removes such comments with immediate effect.

Cyber Bullying

We take very seriously the use of cyber bullying by a child/children or a parent to publicly humiliate another by inappropriate social network entry. We will take and deal with this as a serious incident of school bullying.

The school will also consider its legal options to deal with any such misuse on social networking and other sites.