Behaviour and attendance
The Department for Children, Schools and Families is very conscious of the impact of pupil behaviour on teaching and learning. The Behaviour and Attendance strategy aims to:
- Reduce behavioural problems, both serious and low-level
- Reduce exclusions
- Provide high-quality alternative provision for those who are excluded, or at risk of exclusion or of dropping out of the system
- Reduce truancy, tackle the root causes and improve attendance levels
- Ensure effective mechanisms are in place for identifying and re-engaging children going missing from school
- Improve perceptions of behaviour and attendance amongst school staff, parents and the community at large
- Close the gap between behaviour problems shown by different groups of pupils
See also the DCSF's Improving Behaviour in Schools site, which gives official policy news and carries case studies.
This area of TeacherNet will be developing to provide practical information and links to further advice and support. Information on bullying and truancy is already available and we also have a section dedicated to social issues and pastoral care.
If you would like to make a suggestion about what should appear in this area, get in touch with TeacherNet by clicking on 'Contact us' on the left of the screen.
Sometimes it's not pupils but visitors to the school whose behaviour is causing difficulties. Visit the abusive behaviour section of Safe Schools on this site for information.
Leadership training
An important part of the DCSF Behaviour and Attendance strategy
is the National Programme for Specialist Leaders of
Behaviour and Attendance (NPSL-BA). This training programme aims to
give professional status to specialists in the field. NPSL-BA strengthens
participants' practical and theoretical knowledge, develops their
leadership skills and is building a professional community of behaviour and
attendance specialists.
Articles and case studies
Examples of how schools have tackled issues of behaviour, attendance
and discipline can be found in the case studies database, which
include a school's approach to improving behaviour at lunchtime and details of how
one school addressed the needs of vulnerable pupils. See the case studies area for more examples. You can also read a
good-practice newsletter sharing information and ideas, produced by
the Government Office for the South East (November 2004).
Publication of guidance on the education of children with
behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) as a
special educational need
Revised guidance intended to help schools and
local authorities consider what support and provision are most likely to help
remove barriers to the achievement, health and emotional well-being of children
and young people with BESD is now available.
Useful websites
Behaviour 4 Learning
This resource assists teacher trainers and their trainees in managing
classes and pupil behaviour. The focus of the initiative is upon developing
trainee skills and insights which foster a classroom ethos of 'behaviour
for learning'.
Behaviour UK
This site provides a range of resources on behavioural issues, including news,
articles, discussion forums and opinion polls.
Pivotal
Education
This company runs a weekly free behaviour management tips
service for teachers as well as offering free consultation meetings to
schools who are considering booking behaviour management training.
