SECTION 1: CONTEXT

The purpose of this Policy is to:

• • Uphold Green Labyrinth’s mission statement “Empowering Learning, Transforming Lives” for learners’ behaviour
• • Specify the processes GL staff are to follow when dealing with and recording learners’ behaviour
• • Provide details on the 3Rs of Our Charter

1.2 Green Labyrinth is committed to providing a safe and structured environment in which teachers can teach and learners can learn. In order to achieve this:

• • All learners and staff will be treated with unconditional positive regard
• • All learners will show respect towards all staff, visitors and to one another
• • Parents are expected to encourage their children to show that respect and support Green Labyrinth in how it disciplines and rewards learners
• • All members of staff help create a positive and productive ethos
• • Managers help create a culture of respect by supporting their staff’s authority to discipline and reward, ensuring that this happens consistently within and across the centre
• • Every tutor and teaching assistant will be trained to recognise that behaviour is the manifestation of a need and a form of communication
• • Rewards and sanctions will be displayed clearly in classrooms and around the centre to ensure clarity and understanding from parents, staff, learners and stakeholders of the behaviour policy
• • All rewards and interventions will be applied fairly and consistently

SECTION 2: STATUS

2.1 This policy was approved by the Senior Leadership Team on 30th August 2024.

2.2 The Learner Behaviour Policy links to the following:

• • Our Charter
• • Safeguarding
• • E-Safety
• • Attendance Policy
• • Learner Equality and Diversity
• • Learner Agreement
• • Plagiarism
• • Complaints

SECTION 3: DEFINITIONS

3.1 There is no universally agreed international definition of the youth age group. For statistical purposes, however, the United Nations – without prejudice to any other definitions made by Member States – defines ‘youth’ as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years.

3.2 Behaviour relates to the way in which a learner conducts themselves. This conduct may be physical, verbal, non-verbal and online.

SECTION 4: THE 3 Rs

4.1 Behaviour is fundamental to creating a positive learning environment. Green Labyrinth places great emphasis on the following 3 core principles for all learners and staff:

• - Readiness
• - Responsibility
• - Respect

SECTION 5: REWARD SYSTEM

Green Labyrinth staff will always look to recognise and reward the 3Rs. This may be through:

• • Positive verbal comments/praise
• • Awarding of house points
• • End of term and year awards and prizes; Individual and House
• • Certificates and prizes for good attendance
• • These rewards are for learners to earn, not lose

SECTION 6: MEDIATION PROCESS

6.1 All staff and learners will be aware of Green Labyrinth’s mediation process. It forms part of staff and learner inductions, and it is displayed in every classroom. When a learner does not follow Our Charter and prevents learning, essentially breaching Our Charter, staff will follow the Mediation Process to give the learner a chance to redeem themselves.

6.2 Mediation Classroom Display

*BE ADVISED - The mediation process is a baseline, each learner’s journey is taken into consideration and this may affect the outcome of the process*

6.3 The foundation of this policy is redemption and aims for learners to return to learning at every stage. The table below details examples of behaviours at each level and actions required by staff. This list is to be used as guidance and Green Labyrinth trusts the judgement of its staff. This list is for illustrative purposes and does not cover all possible examples.

SECTION 7. MENTORS

7.1 All learners will be assigned a mentor once they are on roll. Mentors & mentees must meet once every 2 weeks (unless otherwise indicated) to discuss, reflect and measure personal, pastoral, IAG, social & behavioural targets. Required staff will be informed of a learner’s target for the term set in mentor meetings.

7.2 Mentors will also be required to write a section on end of term reports about their mentees’ progress.

7.3 Behaviour will be monitored by the Mentor and Head of Study Programme.

7.4 Mentors are to be informed of any positive behaviours or behaviour concerns displayed by their mentee through an MIS case. Additional mentor meetings can be arranged if required.

SECTION 8: SUSPENSION AND SERIOUS REVIEW OF PLACE

8.1 The Head of Study Programme, in consultation with relevant staff, will decide whether to suspend a learner for a fixed term in line with this Behaviour Policy, taking into account all the circumstances, the evidence available and the need to balance the interests of the learner against those of the whole learner community.

8.2 In extreme circumstances, an M5 will be issued, and a learner’s place will be immediately escalated to serious review. All learners who are unable to continue with their current programme will be supported to find an alternative placement. A 1:1 with a Level 6 Careers Advisor or moving on to a remote package are options to consider.

8.3 Learners and parents have the right to make representations to the senior management about serious review of placement and the Green Labyrinth Board will review the decision. Please refer to our Complaints Policy for the appeals process.

8.4 Extreme behaviour

In the case of behaviour which threatens the welfare of other young people and staff, the learner in question must be removed as soon as possible. Other learners in the classroom are to be moved to a safe point, such as the reception, if their safety is deemed at risk. In cases where we believe that there is risk to the learner, we will raise an intel log with the police and/or social services if we believe the young person needs to be safeguarded. Please inform the DSL and relevant safeguarding members of staff through the appropriate channels.

A Behaviour Case is to be written on MIS on the learner’s profile by the learner’s mentor with details of the incident and set to Stage 5. Further details can be added as investigation progresses, including learner destination.

8.5 Prohibited Items

Any case of prohibited Items or substance use on the premises will result in immediate suspension and an investigation by the Head will be conducted prior to continuing lessons.

In cases where illegal items are brought on site, intel will be shared with relevant organisations, such as the police. In some instances, the police may be called to attend Milton Road.

Prohibited items are:

• • Knives and weapons
• • Alcohol
• • Illegal drugs
• • Stolen items (from an external source or a fellow learner)
• • Fireworks
• • Pornographic images
• • Extremist materials
• • Legal Highs
• • Drug related paraphernalia
• • Any article that has been or is likely to be used to commit an offence, cause personal injury or damage to property
• 
  A Behaviour Case is to be written on MIS on the learner’s profile by the learner’s mentor with details of the incident and set to Stage 5. Further details can be added as investigation progresses, including learner destination.
• 
  

8.7 Suspicion of Learners with Prohibited Items

If there is CCTV evidence, intel or justified suspicion, staff are to raise concerns with Learning Mentors and management. 2 members of staff are to be present to ask a learner to surrender their items or empty their pockets/show the contents of their bag. This is done in agreement with Head of Study Programme.

If a learner is found to have a prohibited item on site, they will be suspended with immediate effect, the item confiscated and issued an M4. A meeting with their mentor and a manager must take place prior to the learner returning to lessons.

If the learner refuses, they can be given the option to surrender the item or leave the premises. If they do give the item over, staff are to recognise that they have surrendered the item and explain that they will be issued an M4 and suspended.

In cases where the item is illegal, intel will be forwarded to the police or the police called to attend on site.

8.8 Physical Intervention

Green Labyrinth staff do not use physical restraint.

There are few situations in which physical intervention would be considered appropriate. Examples of such situations may include the following:

• • When a learner attacks a member of staff
• • When a learner attacks another learner
• • When a learner is hurting themselves or is in danger of hurting themselves
• • When extreme criminal damage is taking place

When a learner has failed to follow instructions and needs to be removed from the area due to the risk of the aforementioned points, we will inform the police via 999 or an intel log, dependent on severity, to ensure that all information is up to date, and all are aware of risks. For the safety of all staff and learners, we will keep local police updated and informed of all incidents and concerns which meet this criteria.

• • Physical intervention, if required regarding the above situations, may take several forms. It might involve staff:
• • Physically interposing between learners
• • Blocking a learner’s path
• • Leading a learner by the hand or arm
• • Shepherding a learner away by placing a hand in the centre of the back

If all of the above interventions are ineffective, then the police will be called.

SECTION 9: PEER ON PEER ABUSE

9.1 This section should be read in conjunction with our Safeguarding Policy.

9.2 Green Labyrinth identify peer on peer abuse as:

• • Deliberate harmful behaviour from one learner to another; or a group of learners
• • Behaviour which is repeated over a period of time
• • Behaviour which is difficult for those being abused to defend themselves from

9.3 Peer on peer abuse can take many forms but the main types are:

• • Emotional – Being unfriendly, excluding and tormenting.
• • Physical - Pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
• • Racist - Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
• • Sexual – Sexual harassment in any form is bullying e.g. unwanted physical contact, sexually abusive comments
• • Homophobic - Because of, or focussing on, the issue of sexual orientation.
• • Verbal - Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing.
• • Cyber - All areas of internet such as email, social media misuse and mobile phones
• • Prejudice – On the grounds of different interests (or difference/inferior economic status) i.e. students can be bullied for being interested in things (e.g. work, classical music, acting and sport) considered ‘uncool’ by a group or ‘in-crowd’

9.4 Green Labyrinth Training will not tolerate bullying within the centre and will seek to deal with it quickly and effectively so that all students can learn in a safe and happy environment.

9.5 All staff in Green Labyrinth will encourage an atmosphere of mutual support, tolerance and an awareness of the effects of intimidation and bullying. Staff will model tolerant and supportive behaviour to help combat peer on peer abuse and uphold the 3 Rs.

9.6 Peer on peer abuse will be dealt with swiftly and staff will employ the Mediation Process when dealing with it. The Designated Safeguarding Lead should be consulted and informed.

9.7 A Behaviour Case is to be written on MIS on the learner’s profile by the learner’s mentor with details of the bullying and set to Stage 3. Further details can be added as investigation progresses.

9.8 Learners should be made aware that peer bullying will not be tolerated and although staff will endeavour to reconcile difficulties between learners, serious peer on peer abuse/serious youth violence could lead to:

• • Removal from lessons
  
• • Contact and meetings with parents
  
• • Suspension
  
• • Serious Review of Place
  
• • Involvement of the police

9.9 Green Labyrinth believe behaviour is communication and all learners involved with bullying will be supported. For the victim, this may be:

• • Change in timetable or blended learning to support transition back into lessons
• • Contact and meetings with parents
• • Additional mentor meetings for support
• • Offer of mediation with their bully
• • Signposts to other sources of support
  
  

9.10 For the bully, this may be:

• • Conduct Review to encourage reflection and self-awareness
• • Contact and meetings with parents
• • Involvement of other key workers
• • Reduced or amended timetable

SECTION 10: CHARGING

10.1 Green Labyrinth reserves the right to make reasonable reparation charges in the following circumstances:

• • Damage to equipment, property or premises
• • Failure to attend Pubic/External Examinations
• • Charges will be issued at the discretion of the Head of Study Programme on a case-by-case basis

10.2 In the case of charges being made Green Labyrinth will:

• • Contact parents/carers to discuss the incident
• • Establish the cost of replacement/repair/fee incurred
• • Confirm in writing the cost and charge to be made to parent/carer

10.3 Charges will be made on the following basis:

• • All costs will be at a 50% charge
• • Missed examinations will be charged at the full cost of each entry
• • Non-payment of charges could result in further action being taken

SECTION 11: COVID

11.1 At Green Labyrinth we realise that Covid-19 crisis was a challenging and unsettling time for everyone, and government guidelines can change rapidly. Therefore, Green Labyrinth promises to continually update policies to reflect changes and inform all parties.

11.2 To keep staff, learners and visitors safe we expect all parties to adhere to the behaviour policy, including Covid-19 related anti-social behaviour, such as:

• • Refusal of face coverings in advised areas, if not exempt
• • Coughing on others
• • Refusal to social distance
• • Refusal to clean down areas when requested
• • Refusal to dispose of tissues/waste correctly
• • Refusal to take into account other staff and learners’ preferences
• • Entering other bubble classrooms

11.3 Green Labyrinth sees these incidents as serious behaviour issues and will follow the mediation process, in line with the Behaviour threshold framework, which could result in a learner’s placement coming under serious review.

11.4 If a serious behaviour incident occurs in a bubble classroom, other learners will be removed to a safe point that is not occupied by other bubble classes, such as the reception area.

SECTION 12: EVALUATION & MONITORING

12.1 This policy will be monitored by the Senior Leadership Team.

12.2 Green Labyrinth’s Behaviour policy is continually evolving and as such the policy is reviewed regularly and circulated to staff, learners, parents and carers. The policy is regularly reviewed by the Board.

12.3 When evaluating the success of the policy, Green Labyrinth will consider to what extent:

• • Achievement has been raised
• • There is consistency in the allocation of rewards across different classes by staff
• • Behaviour and relationships within the centre can be described as at least good
• • Progress in soft skills such as attendance

SECTION 13: REVIEW

13.1 The policy will be reviewed annually

13.2 The next date of review will be August 2025.

13.3 Subsequent Reviews: