Behaviour for Learning
'The TPA Way’
is a statement of preferred behaviours that covers all aspects of our learning community. This contributes to the development and maintenance of appropriate behaviour and a positive ethos. All members of the school are expected to help maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, with courtesy and mutual respect and the use of restorative practices and principles as standard.
It is very important that positive aspects of praise and reward should have a great emphasis. Pupils respond better to systems which recognise their difficulties and strengths. Pupils can earn ABC Merit Points for following ‘The TPA Way,’ linked to the 3 values of the school, and which promote effective learning habits and routines. Each lesson, up to 3 merits can be achieved - take a look at 'The TPA Way' below.
Turning Point Academy is a school whose aim is to help pupils modify their behaviour to enable them to be successful learners and become young adults able to cope with the demands of life, and contribute well to the community they live in.
Parents and carers have a vital role to play in encouraging good behaviour. For the school policy to be effective, pupils, parents, carers and staff must work together to help ensure that pupils achieve and become successful learners.
TPA is a restorative school -
This means that staff have the necessary skills to deal with any issues using a Restorative Approach. We use and promote the use of restorative language across the school community. Each class at TPA puts together their own ‘Core Values and Beliefs,’ and we encourage everyone to talk about their feelings. Restorative meetings are used as a vehicle to resolve any conflict and pupils and staff are encouraged to participate in restorative meetings.
Restorative practice gives a clear overarching mindset and strategic framework and supports any targets that depend on building, maintaining and repairing relationships. It is an effective way of addressing discipline and behavioural issues as well as provide school staff with a consistent framework for preventing and dealing with problems.
The benefits of restorative practice are -
- Pupils encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their actions
- Children and young people empowered to make their own decisions
- Staff better equipped to manage difficult situations
- Improved relationships and wellbeing amongst pupils and staff
- Improved communication skills
- Improved emotional literacy
- Reduced exclusions and persistent absenteeism
Our Classroom Rules -
- Be ready to learn
- Dream big
- Say please and thank you
- Try new things
- Take risks and make mistakes
- Follow directions
- Raise your hand
- Believe in yourself
- Work hard
I Pledge Allegiance to my Class!
- All pupils are asked to ‘Pledge allegiance to their Classroom,’ by signing their classroom pledge –
- To treat each new day as an exciting opportunity, even if yesterday wasn’t great.
- To be kind to everyone, even the people that drive us crazy.
- To complete our work on time and to the best of our ability, despite the pressures of our social lives.
- To believe in ourselves and know that we can achieve everything we put our growing minds to.
- To fulfil our side of the teaching and learning partnership, every lesson of every day, so that we may go into the world doing brilliant and wonderful things.
Positive Handling of Pupils
All staff at TPA are trained in an approved positive handling technique called ‘Team Teach.’ This is a safe way of de-escalating any conflict situations, which may include physical intervention as a very last resort. More detailed information can be found in our behaviour policy.
Our behaviour policy can be obtained from the school office and is also available on this website.