Behaviour

Positive Relationships for Students, Parents/Carers and Staff

The North Cottesloe Primary School values are ‘strive for excellence, show respect, act with integrity and care’. These values are explicitly taught and reinforced with our students and promoted with and expected from, our staff and community, so we can provide a safe and supportive environment for all.

There are a number of resources available to staff and parents to assist with positive relationships amongst our school community:

  • Our School Board has developed the ‘NCPS Family Communication Guidelines’ to assist families with accessing the appropriate avenues for communication with the school.  
  • The ‘NCPS Communication Guidelines’ outline the schools’ processes for transparent, positive and meaningful communication between staff, the school community and students.
  • The school has also developed a ‘Complaints Management Policy’ based on the Department of Education’s ‘Disputes and Complaints Policy’ to give stakeholders an overview of the Departments procedures and processes for managing enquiries, concerns and complaints.

To support students in their social development the school follows the Friendly Schools Plus program. This program is taught through the Health curriculum and is the basis for our approach to addressing bullying concerns as well as social and emotional development, resilience and bystander behaviour. The school implements a positive, proactive approach to supporting student behaviour and this is linked to our school values. For more information on how we address bullying concerns and promote positive student behaviour please see the following documents:

Behaviour Management

Please refer to the Student Behaviour Matrix

Our Student Behaviour and Well-being 2022 policy provides a framework for school decision making about promoting and maintaining a positive learning environment and positive student behaviour and well-being.

NCPS Approach to Addressing Bullying

Bullying is:

  • A targeted, repeated, unjustifiable behaviour that may be physical, verbal, sexual and/or psychological
  • Intended to cause fear, distress or harm to another
  • Conducted by an individual or group in an attempt to assert power
  • Against an individual or group who is unable to effectively resist
  • Bullying can occur in person and/or through the use of technologies

Ideas of what to do if you are being bullied:

  • Don’t put up with it! Tell them to stop
  • Tell someone you trust: a teacher, a friend, parents. This is not “dobbing”.
  • Don’t react. Just walk away with your head held up high.
  • Use a strong, confident voice. Be assertive, don’t be “put down”
  • Avoid the person who is harassing you
  • Stay away from places where you might be bullied
  • Don’t show you are scared even if you might be
  • Don’t try to swap insults
  • Remember, you are not alone

What should I do if I know someone is being bullied?
If you witness someone being bullied, we hope you want to help and that you know you have the power to help. We all need to work together if we are going to stop bullying behaviour in our school. You should:

  • Offer friendship and support to the person being bullied. Encourage them to get help from an adult, family or councillor.
  • If possible, intervene while the bullying is happening by saying, “Leave him/her alone!” or “Cut it out!” or “Hey, that’s not fair!”.
  • Report the incident to a teacher or parent as soon as you can. Don’t be afraid to come forward as you can speak in privacy and your identity will be kept anonymous if you desire.

Some things you can do to stop yourself bullying others:

  • Avoid people who encourage you to bully others – make different friends and don’t encourage others
  • Learn to say and do what you want without making other people unhappy
  • Talk to someone you trust and get help

What parents can do to help:

  • Be aware of signs and distress in your child
  • Assist your child to discuss the problem with a teacher
  • Discourage any planned retaliation, whether physical or verbal, if your child is bullied by discussing positive strategies they can use
  • Be positive about your child’s qualities and encourage your child to be tolerant and caring

What will the school do?
The school implements The Friendly Schools Plus program which is the basis for our approach to addressing bullying concerns as well as social and emotional development, resilience and bystander behaviour.
In the case of confirmed bullying, staff will:

  • Listen and respond with empathy
  • Refer the incident to Administration
  • Hear both parties explain the situation and counsel where necessary
  • Record incidents of bullying
  • Ensure there is a follow up with the student being bullied
  • Contact parents of the child being bullied and the child who is bullying
  • Where appropriate, manage the situation using a “shared concern” approach
  • Where appropriate apply consequences from the school’s Behaviour Management Policy (currently under review)

Useful links
Friendly Schools and Families
www.friendlyschools.com.au

Michael Carr-Gregg
www.michaelcarrgregg.com

Bullying – No Way, Safe Australian Schools Together
www.bullyingnoway.com.au

Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
www.kidshelpline.com.au

Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
www.lifeline.org.au