Parents

If you have any queries or questions which are not answered here then please contact your child's Class Teacher in the first instance, who will be happy to help.

Behaviour Expectations for Parents, Carers and Visitors to Castledyke Primary School

This is an unsigned agreement between Parents, Carers, Visitors and Castledyke Primary School. The purpose of this is to provide the expectations around the conduct of all parents, carers and visitors affiliated to our school.

At Castledyke, we are very strong on the values that underpin everything we do and we work hard to ensure that everyone on our site feels respected and shows the same respect to others at all times. At our school, staff, governors, parents and carers all recognise the education of our students is paramount and this is a joint focus for each of us.

We expect our school community to respect our school ethos, keep our school tidy, set a good example of their own behaviour both on school premises and when representing the school externally.

In partnership for the benefit of our children and young people, we continue to encourage strong relationships with all our stakeholders to enhance school life for all.

We are committed to resolving issues that may arise in a constructive manner, through open and positive dialogue. Where issues arise, please contact the school to try and resolve such informally in the first instance. Should this not be successful, or if this is not appropriate, please refer to our Complaint’s Procedure, which can be downloaded from the school website or a copy can be requested from the school reception.

Our staff have the right to come to work without fear of verbal and physical abuse, and this will not be tolerated from parents, carers or visitors to the school. Clear expectations of behaviour are set out for all visitors and should breaches occur, appropriate action will be taken.

Behaviour that will not be tolerated:

• Disruptive behaviour which interferes or threatens to interfere with any of the schools’ usual 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 staff, visitor, fellow parent/carer or student
• Damaging or destroying school property
• Sending abusive or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communications (including social media) to anyone within the school community
• Defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the students/parents/staff/governors at the school on Facebook or other online sites
• The use of physical, verbal or written aggression towards another adult or child (this includes physical punishment of 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 on to the school premises (other than guide dogs)

Note:

1. This list is not exhaustive and other behaviours may be considered inappropriate and/or unacceptable.
2. Should any of the above occur on school premises or in connection with Castledyke, the school may feel it is necessary to take action by contacting the appropriate authorities, issuing a written warning or consider banning the offending adult from entering the school premises or contacting the school in person.
3. All visitors to the school are expected to adhere to the expectations outlined at all times, whilst on school premises.

What happens if someone ignores or breaks the code?

In cases where the unacceptable behaviour is considered to be a serious and potentially criminal matter, the concerns will in the first instance be referred to the Police. This will include any or all cases of threats or violence and actual violence to any child, staff or governor in the school. This will also include anything that could be seen as a sign of harassment of any member of the school community, such as persistent online communications, any form of insulting social media post or any form of social media cyber bullying.

In cases where evidence suggests that behaviour would be tantamount to libel or slander, then the school will refer the matter to North Lincolnshire Council’s Legal Team for advice and possible further action.

In cases where the Code of Conduct has been broken, but the breach was not libellous, slanderous or a criminal matter then:

the school will send out a warning letter to advise the person involved that their behaviour has been unacceptable and any further examples of this behaviour could lead to a ban from the school site

OR

if the incident is serious enough or there has previously been a warning letter issued, the school will send out a formal letter to the parent/carer with an invite to a meeting with the Head Teacher. This letter will outline that the Head Teacher is mindful to ban the parent/carer and the parent/carer has the opportunity to meet with the Head Teacher to present their case as to why they should not be banned from the site.

If the parent or carer refuses to attend the meeting, or if the parent/carer fails to demonstrate to the Head Teacher that they are remorseful and will not repeat their behaviours, the school will write to the parent or carer to let them know they are banned from the school premises.

Any letter detailing a ban from the site will include details of how long the ban is in operation, when the meeting to review the ban will be held, and to outline the arrangements for home-school communication whilst the ban is in force.

Issues of conduct with the use of Social Media

Castledyke Primary School has a Facebook page and Instagram account, we encourage parents to access these regularly, as key platforms for communication and information sharing between the school and stakeholders. We ask that parents and carers use common sense when discussing school life online.

‘Think before you post’ - We ask that social media, whether public or private, should not be used to fuel campaigns and voice complaints against the school, school staff, parents or students.

Online activity which we consider inappropriate:

• Identifying or posting images/videos of current students
• Abusive or personal comments about staff, governors, students or other parents
• Bringing the school in disrepute
• Posting defamatory or libellous comments
• Emails circulated or sent directly with abusive or personal comments about staff or students
• Using social media to publicly challenge school policies or discuss issues about individual students or members of staff
• Threatening behaviour, such as verbally intimidating staff, or using bad language
• Breaching school security procedures

At our school we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously and will deal with any reported incidents appropriately in line with the actions outlined above.