Page 82 - SEN115 - November/December 2021

Behaviour
Consistency – or maybe a bit
of flexible consistency?
Dave Whitaker reflects upon whether the consistent and inflexible implementation of a school behaviour policy is always the best approach for the well being of all pupils.
82
Behaviour policies can either empower us or deeply frustrate us. They are one of the most contentious and divisive aspects of school life. They can either help us develop and grow as professionals or tie us
to a rigid set of rules that we may not even believe in.
There is a sense, under the current government, that the preferred direction for schools is a traditional methodology of strict discipline, zero-tolerance and no excuses. Schools are being encouraged to consider mobile phone bans and silent corridors with ministers backing head teachers to use exclusion with confidence. Encouragingly, many head teachers are taking an alternative stance and looking to develop relationships and restorative approaches as their way of preventing exclusions.
The polarisation of views is a worry. Surely, we need to be looking at what works and at what cost? Cost, in this case is not a monetary price, but the impact behaviour policies have on the lives of the children. What ‘unintended’ consequences do zero-tolerance behaviour approaches have? Are these actually unintended consequences or are they seen as acceptable collateral damage in a system designed to meet the needs of
“Do not fail our most complex children with narrow, strict compliance”
some but not all children? Does a relational approach mean schools are accepting lower standards and ‘allowing’ children’s inappropriate behaviour to go unpunished?
A great behaviour policy should not be over reliant on harsh punishments and high rewards. It should be supportive and flexible, with the drive towards intrinsic motivation to achieve high standards of acceptable social behaviour both in and out of school. We do not want to create a society where appropriate behaviour is predicated on the threat and fear of punishment, but we do want high standards and great behaviour.
SEN115
senmagazine.co.uk