THOA Reset Room

Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this letter finds you well and you have enjoyed a relaxing and healthy Christmas break. Happy new year to you and your families.

I am writing to update you on some small changes to our behaviour policy; changes going live this week. You will recall when Ofsted visited in October 2023, they saw improvements in behaviour across the school, commenting that both lesson and corridor behaviour is “much improved”. Lessons visited were “calm” and “pupils observed cooperating with staff”. Staff were praised for consistency in rewarding the right behaviour and challenging the unwanted behaviour observed.

However, our own surveys, as well as conversations that took place during the October visit, show there is still some low-level disruption in pockets across the school and, although staff are dealing with this behaviour consistently, learning is being disrupted as a result.

The current behaviour policy is working for the large majority of our children, and the changes I am making this week will only impact the majority positively. However, where there is ongoing, persistent and disruptive behaviour the policy needs some adjustment. Children have the right to learn in a disruption free environment and I intend for these changes to enhance our pupil’s capacity for successful and productive learning.

The changes I am making sit within the current C0 – C5 structure (see Sanctions on Page 3 of this letter). However, C3 becomes an immediate removal from the lesson for the rest of that lesson. This means that any child who is repeatedly disrupting the learning in a lesson (whether through disturbing other learners, being disrespectful or refusing to follow teacher instructions etc) will be given three reminders/ warnings/opportunities to make better choices in order to remain in the classroom and engage in the learning and teaching taking place.

During the reminder/warning process, the teacher will apply a range of strategies and interventions to
remove all possible barriers for the child and encourage the child to make good choices to fully engage in learning. For example, they may move the child to a different seat, adapt the task to create further challenge or support, and remind the pupil of the consequences of ongoing, repeated, disruptive behaviour.

If the disruption continues, the pupil will be removed to the RESET room for the remainder of the lesson to calm down, reflect on the lesson, reset their thinking and behaviour ready to return to the following lesson.

The RESET room is a full-time supervised space allowing time for reflection, silent work and, where
appropriate, a dialogue about what went wrong and how the removal could have been avoided. Work will be provided during this time.

A lesson removal in the day will result in an immediate same day after school 30-minute detention –
3.15pm to 3.45pm. Parents will be informed about a same day after school detention at either 11.15am or 1.30pm via an Edulink message. Removals occurring during lesson 5 will result in an after school detention the following day. Where a pupil has a Period 5 removal (and following day after school) plus a removal the following day, their afterschool will be one hour to reflect the removal over a two day period. Parents wanting to know the reason for the lesson removal can find out via the behaviour C3 log on Edulink (Behaviour Icon). The class teacher will outline the reason for the child’s removal from the lesson. If further information is required, please contact the class teacher who will be able to provide further detail. Please be mindful that teachers have full time timetables and my not be able to respond immediately. The academy applies a 48 hour response time frame which will be shorter where possible.

Parents will be responsible for collecting their child or consenting to the child walking home at 3.45pm
where appropriate.

Two lesson removals in one day will result in a next day isolation; a head of year behaviour report and a parent meeting to discuss further ways of supporting the child with their behaviour. Following two
removals in one day, a decision will be made by a senior member of staff whether that pupil is able to
return to lessons that day.

These actions are designed to have a positive impact on all learners in our school. Teachers will be able to teach and pupils will be able to learn, free from persistent disruption. For pupils who may be subject to spending time in RESET, this system will ensure pupils can access further support and guidance in how to self-regulate their emotions and make the right choices. Where necessary, bespoke interventions will allow for further assessment and screening to investigate possible causes of behaviour. This will ensure any individual behaviour improvement plans or strategies are tailored to individual needs. When RESET has to be used, we hope it is as infrequent as possible so that pupils value being in lessons with their peers and teachers, gaining an education that will set them up for life.

Staff have been fully informed and trained in this new routine during our TED day yesterday. Pupils will be briefed in assemblies this week.

I am confident this adaptation to the current policy is the final piece of the puzzle for ensuring our
expectations of pupil behaviour at the school remain high; is well understood by all and that low level
disruptive behaviour does not disrupt lessons and learning to the detriment of others. Our ultimate aim is for all pupils to be in all lessons and learning all of the time.

I value your support with this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss this further.

Yours sincerely
Mrs V Dean
Principal