Parents' Code of Conduct
A Code of Conduct for Parents, Carers and Visitors
Rationale
The Stoke Poges School is a welcoming, supportive and inclusive school and it is important that all members of the school community work together. We are proud of our good reputation and we depend on the entire school community to help us maintain and improve our children’s learning.
We are very fortunate to have supportive and friendly parents and carers who recognise that educating children is a process that involves partnership between home and school and understand the importance of a good working relationship to equip children with the necessary skills for adulthood.
The purpose of this code, which forms part of the Home-School Agreement, is to provide a reminder to all parents, carers and visitors about expected conduct so we can continue to flourish and achieve in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.
Respect and concern for others and their rights
We expect parents, carers and visitors to:
- Support the respectful ethos of the school by setting a good example in their own speech, conduct and behaviour towards all members of the school community both on school premises and in its immediate area
- Follow the school values
- Work together with all staff for the benefit of the children
- Seek to clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s view to bring about a peaceful solution to any issue
- Allow plenty of time so that children arrive ready for a punctual start to the school day, to avoid disruption to their own learning and that of the entire class
- Park carefully and in good time for the safety of the children, yourself and all road users, by avoiding parking, waiting or stopping in areas presently indicated by ‘zigzags’ or in front of the school gates or neighbours’ driveways, which must be kept clear at all times
- Keep animals off school grounds for health and safety reasons, unless it is for educational purposes and with the express prior permission from the Headteacher
- Enter the school via the school reception so that the office staff can deal quickly with requests
In order to support the ethos of our school, we will not tolerate:
- Disruptive behaviour which interferes with teaching, learning or administration within the school
- The use of loud and/or offensive language or display of temper
- Threatening, aggressive or intimidating conversations or behaviour towards another adult or child
- Damage or destruction of school property
- Abusive, persistent or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communication
- Defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the pupils/parents/staff at the school, in public or on WhatsApp, Facebook or other social media sites
- The use of physical aggression towards another adult or child. This includes physical punishment against your own child on school premises
- An adult approaching someone else’s child to discuss or chastise them because of the actions of this child towards their own child
- Smoking and consumption of alcohol or other drugs whilst on school property
- Use of mobile phones on sight unless permission has been granted by the Headteacher e.g. at productions, sports day etc.
The Headteacher and the school governors may prohibit an adult from entering the school grounds to safeguard our school community. Adverse behaviour may be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Inappropriate use of social media
Social media websites are being used increasingly to fuel campaigns and complaints against schools, the Headteacher, school staff, and in some cases other parents/pupils. The Stoke Poges School considers the use of social media websites being used in this way as unacceptable and not in the best interests of the children or the whole school community. Any concerns you may have must be made through the appropriate channels by speaking to the class teacher, phase leader or Headteacher, so they can be dealt with fairly, appropriately and effectively for all concerned.
In the event that any pupil or parent/carer of a child/ren being educated in The Stoke Poges 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.
In serious cases, the school will also consider its legal options to deal with any such misuse of social networking and other sites. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly is the issue of cyber bullying and use by one child 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. Thankfully such incidents are extremely rare.
Thank you for your cooperation to ensure all children at The Stoke Poges School remain happy, confident and successful.