Corrective and Support Strategies

Strategies promoting positive behaviour:

Strategies are chosen from among the following:

  • A quiet word or gesture to show approval.
  • A comment in a pupil's copy.
  • A visit to another member of staff or the principal for commendation.
  • A word of praise in front of a group or class.
  • A word of praise in front of a group or class.
  • A mention to parent, either written or verbal.

Sanctions:

  1. Sanctions, within class, will be at the discretion of the individual teacher.
  2. Worksheet, appropriate to the class level, will be issued.
  3. Detention - persistent misdemeanour or gross misbehaviour will incur detention.
  4. Suspension and/or expulsion.

Strategies for dealing with unacceptable behaviour:

Strategies will be chosen from among the following:

  • Reasoning with the pupil.
  • Reprimand (including advice on how to improve).
  • Temporary separation from peers, friends or others.
  • Loss of privileges.
  • Detention during a break.
  • Prescribing additional work.
  • Referral to the post holder/principal.
  • Communication with parent.
  • Suspension (temporary).
  • Expulsion.

Suspension:

Suspension/expulsion procedures will comply with the Education and Welfare Act and in accordance with Rule 130 of the Rules for National Schools.

Home School Communication

The staff of our school always welcomes the opportunity to discuss, with parents, behavioural problems that may arise from time to time. With mutual respect, trust and goodwill these occasional problems are readily solved. The successful implementation of this policy depends on pupils, parents and staff working together.

This policy, together with our school's Anti-bullying Policy will be provided to all new applicants on their enrolment to our school.

Rule 130 - Rules for National Schools

The following is the text of Rule 130 as included in Circular 20/90 (This rule was amended by Circular 7/88).

  1. The board of management has ultimate responsibility for discipline in the school under its management and a duty to ensure that a fair code of discipline applies therein. This code should be formulated by the principal and the teaching staff in consultation with parents and be approved by the board.
  2. Teachers should have a lively regard for the improvement and general welfare of their pupils, treat them with kindness combined with firmness and should aim at governing them through their affections and reason and not by harshness and severity. Ridicule, sarcasm or remarks likely to undermine a pupil's self-confidence should not be used in any circumstances.
  3. The use of corporal punishment is forbidden.
  4. Any teacher who contravenes sections (2) and (3) of this Rule will be regarded as guilty of conduct unbefitting a teacher and will be subject to severe disciplinary action
  5. Where the board of management deems it necessary to make provision in the code of discipline to deal with continuously disruptive pupils or with a serious breach of discipline, by authorising the chairperson or principal to exclude a pupil or pupils from school the maximum initial period of such exclusion shall be three school days.
    • A special decision of the board of management is necessary to authorise a further period of exclusion up to a maximum of 10 school days to allow for consultation with the pupil’s or pupils' parents or guardians. In exceptional circumstances, the board of management may authorise a further period of exclusion in order to enable the matter to be reviewed.
  6. No pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another suitable school.