Behaviour of Visitors and Parents Policy

Policy details

Date created - 1/12/2020

Date reviewed -

Next review date - 1/12/2023

Date approved - 1/12/20

This policy was approved by the AGC

Creating Bright Futures

Behaviour of Visitors and Parents Policy

Statement of Principles.

The Academy Governing Council (AGC) and staff actively encourage close links with parents and the community.  We believe that children benefit when the relationship between home and school is a positive one.

The vast majority of parents, carers and others visiting the school are keen to work with us and are supportive of the school.  From time to time it is necessary for parents and the school to deal with problems relating to particular children or incidents.  It is important that discussions between parents and staff are conducted in a calm and respectful manner.  In the vast majority of such situations, this is what happens.  On rare occasions, aggression and verbal or physical abuse is directed towards members of school staff, other pupils, parents or members of the wider school community.

The Academy Governing Council expects and requires its members of staff to behave professionally in these difficult situations and attempt to defuse the situation where possible, seeking the involvement as appropriate of other colleagues.  However, all members of staff have the right to work without fear of violence and abuse, and the right, in an extreme case, of appropriate self-defence.

Violence, threatening behaviour and abuse against school staff or other members of the school community, including other parents and children, will not be tolerated.  All members of the school community have a right to expect that their school is a safe place in which to work and learn.  There is no place for violence, threatening behaviour or abuse in our school.

We expect parents and other visitors to behave in a reasonable way towards members of school staff and the wider community at all times.  This policy outlines the steps that will be taken where behaviour is unacceptable.

Types of behaviour

Although this is not an exhaustive list, the types of behaviour listed provide an illustration of unacceptable behaviour:

• shouting at school staff, other parents or pupils, either in person or over the telephone
• physically intimidating a member of staff, other parent or pupils e.g. standing very close to him / her
• the use of aggressive hand gestures
• threatening school staff, other parents, pupils or other members of the wider school community
• swearing, either in person or over the telephone
• constant emails and / or phone calls which amount to harassment and intimidation, despite the school’s best efforts to address a situation
• participating in inappropriate electronic activity including publishing abusive or inappropriate content with regards to the school, teachers or pupils on social networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter
• physical violence of any sort
• being under the influence of any drugs including alcohol
• smoking or vaping
• making racist comments towards a member of staff, other parent, pupil or member of the wider school community
• writing abusive comments about a member of staff

Whilst the use of such behaviour is unacceptable in all circumstances, the school is particularly concerned to protect its pupils from being exposed to such behaviour (whether or not directed at them).

Unacceptable behaviour may result in the Co-op Academies Trust and the police being informed of the incident.

Procedure

If a parent / carer / visitor behaves in an unacceptable way towards a member of the school community, the Head Teacher or appropriate senior staff will seek to resolve the situation through discussion and mediation.  If necessary, the school’s complaints procedures should be followed by the parent.  

Where all procedures have been exhausted, and aggression or intimidation continue, or where there is an extreme act of violence, a parent or carer may be banned from the school premises by the Head Teacher in agreement with the Governing Body from the school premises for a period of time, subject to review.

Prior to being banned, the following steps will be taken:

1. The parent / carer will be warned, in writing, that s/he is banned from the premises, subject to review, and what will happen if the ban is breached e.g. that police involvement or an injunction application may follow.  Governors will be consulted about the ban and the duration.  The parent / carer will be asked to make a written appeal about the ban if they wish.
2. Where an assault has led to a ban, a statement indicating that the matter has been reported to the Co-op Academies Trust and the police will be included.
3. Where appropriate, arrangements for pupils being delivered to and collected from the school gate will be clarified.

Following a ban, the persons involved will be invited to formally express their views on the decision to bar them in writing.

Conclusion

Pupils learn best when there is a positive partnership between home and school.  Whilst every effort will be made to work with parents, this will only be possible where parents behave in an acceptable way.

Where a parent’s behaviour is either unacceptable or serious, it will not be possible to continue working with him / her and, as a final resort, legal action may be taken.

Monitoring and review

This policy will be reviewed every three years.  The SLT will be responsible for monitoring its implementation.