Code of Conduct for Parents / Carers, visitors and the wider community
This code of conduct has been written to remind parents, carers and visitors about the expected conduct whilst on site and on trips.
We trust that all parents, carers, visitors and the wider community will assist our school with the implementation of this Code of Conduct and we thank you for your continuing support of the school.
Do
- Set a good example at all times of respect and tolerance when on site including own speech, behaviour and conduct.
- Speak to staff about safeguarding concerns.
- Approach a member of school staff to help resolve any concerns, addressing initially with the child’s class teacher then speaking to the year group lead if it has not been resolved.
- Understand that school staff, parents, Carers and visitors need to work together for the benefit of our children.
Do Not
- Breach school security procedures e.g. entering any parts of the school without permission.
- Take photographs with any mobile devices and/or cameras including on mobile phones on school premises or trips without first gaining permission.
- Display aggressive, intimidating or disruptive behaviour of any kind including on the telephone.
- Use physical aggression including verbal aggression towards any adult or child.
- Use loud or offensive language and threaten any school staff, governor, parent, child or visitor as this will not be tolerated.
- Damage or destroy school property as this may result in you being asked for money recompense and/or the police being called.
Specifically, for parents and carers;
Do
- Remind your child/ren not to ride bikes, scooters etc whilst on school premises.
- Clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s own view in order to resolve an issue.
Do Not
- Allow children to use school equipment including the pirate ship and trim trail before or after school.
- Approach someone else’s child in order to discuss the actions of this child towards your own child or the child in your care.
Please also note;
Other than guide/hearing dogs. Dogs are not allowed onto the premises.
Any breaches to this Code of Conduct which occurs on school premises, events and/or trips will not be tolerated and may result in banning a person/s from site.
Please also refer to our Safeguarding Policy and our policy for social media including any class Whatsapp or other social media platforms for inappropriate use of social media.
Parental WhatsApp code of conduct
Social media including any class WhatsApp or Facebook platforms
Poplar school does not have a WhatsApp messaging facility that we use to communicate with our parents/carers. We understand that most classes have a WhatsApp group to communicate between themselves. The following is the Code of Use for any class WhatsApp or groups associated with the school.
Class Reps are generally the group administrator or the Chair of the PTA for the PTA group. They should remind parents/carers to go through the correct channels if there are concerns e.g. speaking to the class teacher in the first instance.
WhatsApp and Social Media Platforms - Code of Use for Parents (also relevant for other social media class groups)
- Respect the purpose and objective of the group. The purpose of a Class WhatsApp group is to establish communication with other parents for primarily sharing information related to the class e.g. reminders about a trip. Newsletters, the Friday Flyer and the school website should be referred to before contacting the class rep.
- It serves the purpose of bringing parents/carers together socially and to enlist support of parent/carer volunteers for school events.
- A “WhatsApp class group” should not be used to send messages or content of a personal nature or to promote a business or biased views. Direct messages should be used for personal messages.
- The WhatsApp Group administrator (usually the class rep) acts as the moderator, should the messages exchanged fall consistently outside the purpose and the objective of the group. If appropriate, the group administrator can report any concerns to the school’s Parent Rep Lead, Miss Davies
- You are encouraged to refrain from sending content, information or “news” that has not been verified by the school.
- If you feel uncomfortable in a group for any reason, please notify the group administrator. If appropriate, the group administrator can report any concerns to the school’s Parent Rep Lead, Miss Davies
- The WhatsApp group should not be used for you to discuss members of staff or children. Should you have any personal views or concerns relating to a specific member of staff, a child or a school matter, these should be raised with the teacher or Year lead in the first instance.
- Do not take it personally if someone does not respond to your messages in a group. No one is obliged to do so. Better send him/her a direct message if you are seeking a reply.
- Before sending a message, video, picture, meme or any content, analyse if such material will be in the interest of the majority of the members of the group. Similarly, avoid sending videos or files that are very large.
- Consider whether you would be happy for your message or comment to be written or published before sharing it.
- Do not write anything that will cause distress or upset to another person including staff.
- If you notice that you are having a dialogue with a single member of the group, consider changing the conversation to direct message because the rest of the group may not be interested in reading your conversation with another person.