Code of Conduct

We encourage our pupils and staff to demonstrate our school PRIDE values at all times and this includes being respectful to others. Piper Centre staff continuously model how to build and maintain good relationships, including how to resolve conflicts amicably and respectfully through our restorative approach. We pride ourselves on being positive role models for your children, so that they grow up to be well-rounded members of the community and we need your support in order for this be truly successful. It is important that we work in partnership, putting the needs of all of our pupils at the centre of everything we do.

The school expects parents and carers to:

• Respect the caring ethos of the school.
• Understand that parents and teachers need to work together for the benefit of children.
• Demonstrate in their own behaviour that all members of the school community should be treated with respect and understand that even if there are conflicts, parents must remain calm and respectful.
• Approach school staff to help resolve issues.
• Seek to clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s view, in order to bring about a peaceful solution to any issue.
• Correct their own child’s behaviour, especially where it could lead to conflict.

In order to support a peaceful and safe school environment the school does not tolerate:

• Disruptive behaviour which interferes or threatens to interfere with the operation of a classroom, office or other area of school grounds.
• Loud or offensive language, swearing, cursing or displaying temper.
• Threating to do actual bodily harm to a member of school staff, governor, visitor, parent/carer or pupil.
• Sending abusive or threatening emails, text/voicemail/phone messages or other written communication with derogatory comments, including on social media.
• The use of physical aggression towards another adult or child. This includes physically punishing your own child on school premises.
• Speaking to someone else’s child directly regarding an incident (or their parent/carer), whilst in school.

Any concerns you may have about the school must be made through the appropriate channels by speaking to the class teacher,  a member of the Leadership Team, the Headteacher or the Chair of LAB, so they can be dealt with fairly, appropriately and effectively for all concerned.

Inappropriate use of Social Network Sites

Social media websites are being used increasingly to fuel campaigns and complaints against schools, Headteachers, school staff, and in some cases other parents/pupils. The Piper Centre 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, the Headteacher or the Chair of the LAB, 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 at The Piper Centre is found to be posting inappropriate 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/ material 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 cyberbullying and the 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 Piper Centre remain happy, confident and successful.