At St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School we believe it’s important to work in partnership with parents/carers to support their child’s learning, create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for pupils, staff and parents and model appropriate behaviour for our pupils at all times.

To help us do this, we set clear expectations and guidelines on behaviour for all members of our community. This includes staff (through the staff code of conduct) and pupils (through our behaviour policy). This code of conduct aims to help the school work together with parents by setting guidelines on appropriate behaviour.

We use the term ‘parents’ to refer to:

• anyone with parental responsibility for a pupil
• anyone caring for a child (such as grandparents or child-minders).

Our expectations of parents and carers

We expect parents, carers and other visitors to:

• respect the ethos, vision and values of our school
• work together with staff in the best interests of our pupils
• treat all members of the school community with respect – setting a good example with speech and behaviour
• seek a peaceful solution to all issues
• correct their own child’s behaviour (or those in their care), particularly in public, where it could lead to conflict, aggression or unsafe conduct
• approach the right member of school staff to help resolve any issues of concern.

Behaviour that will not be tolerated

The school will not tolerate the following behaviour:

• disrupting, or threatening to disrupt, school operations (including events on the school grounds and sports team matches)
• swearing, or using offensive language
• displaying a temper, or shouting at members of staff, pupils or other parents
• threatening another member of the school community
• sending abusive messages to another member of the school community, including via text, email or social media
• posting defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments about the school, its staff or any member of its community, on social media platforms
• use of physical punishment against your child while on school premises
• any aggressive behaviour (including verbally or in writing) towards another child or adult
• disciplining another person’s child – please bring any behaviour incidents to a member of staff’s attention
• smoking or drinking alcohol on the school premises (unless alcohol has been allowed at a specific event)
• possessing or taking drugs (including legal highs)
• bringing dogs onto the school premises (other than guide dogs).

Breaching the code of conduct

If the school suspects, or becomes aware, that a parent has breached the code of conduct, the school will gather information from those involved and speak to the parent about the incident. Depending on the nature of the incident, the school may then:

• send a warning letter to the parent
• invite the parent in to school to meet with a senior member of staff or the Headteacher
• contact the appropriate authorities (in cases of criminal behaviour).
• seek advice from the local authority’s legal team regarding further action (in cases of conduct that may be libellous or slanderous)
• ban the parent from the school site.

The school will always respond to an incident in a proportional way. The final decision for how to respond to breaches of the code of conduct rests with the Headteacher.

The Headteacher will consult the chair of governors before banning a parent from the school site.

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

Note: Can parents please ensure they make all persons responsible for collecting their children aware of this policy.

Inappropriate use of Social Network Sites and Messaging groups

Social media websites and messaging groups e.g. Whatsapp, are being used increasingly to fuel campaigns and complaints against schools, Headteachers, school staff, and in some cases other parents or pupils. The Department for Education/Government and Governors of St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School considers the use of social media websites and messaging groups 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, senior leader, the Deputy Headteacher, 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 or groups of pupils or parents/carers of a child/children at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School is found to be posting libellous or defamatory comments on Facebook or other social network sites, they will be reported to 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 immediately.

Cyber Bullying

We take very seriously the use of cyber bullying by one child or a parent or groups of pupils or parents to publicly humiliate another by inappropriate social network entry or messaging. 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.