Managing Disruptive Behaviour and School Exclusions Review

The review focuses on the policies, procedures, support and training the Education Department provides to its schools in managing the disruptive behaviour they face. The Committee's findings are based on its analysis of the statistics and policies provided by the Department, together with the results of its extensive consultation process.

Deputy Brehaut said: "It is widely accepted that disruptive behaviour in a classroom can impact negatively on the learning of pupils, therefore ensuring disruptive behaviour is managed effectively is essential. The Committee was interested to learn the processes the Education Department has in place and how effective they are in practice. The consultation results provided an extremely valuable evidence base for identifying the areas of policy and service delivery that work well, and the areas that require further attention, and the Committee is grateful to all those who contributed to this review."

The Committee's report concludes that, while the Education Department has a number of policies, processes and support procedures in place to assist its schools in managing disruptive behaviour, the monitoring and implementation of these could be improved.

The Committee's report focuses on reviewing the following areas:

• Schools' behaviour management policies;
• The training and support provided to teachers;
• The resourcing of schools' SEN Co-ordinators, Behaviour Co-ordinators and nurture groups;
• The use of internal and external exclusions as a form of behaviour management.
• The SENCO, BECO and SEN provisions in place in Alderney;
• The provisions for pupils with ADHD;
• The pre-school referral process and links to the Department's schools.

The report makes 36 recommendations, principally to the Education Department but including one involving joint working with the Health and Social Services Department on the communication of assessments made by CAMHS and one solely to the Health and Social Services Department regarding the provisions for referrals of Pre-School children, who may have SEN or behavioural difficulties, to professional bodies.
 
If the Committee's propositions are approved by the States, the departments will be directed to report back to the Scrutiny Committee by September 2012 with an update on whether they have accepted or rejected the recommendations made to them and, where they have accepted the recommendations, to outline a timetable for their implementation. The Scrutiny Committee will also be directed to publish an update on the subsequent actions taken by both departments by April 2013.

Deputy Brehaut said: "The Committee believes the implementation of the recommendations made within its review report should improve the management of disruptive behaviour in schools locally. This, in turn, should increase the user satisfaction of teachers, parents and pupils while also enabling the Education Board to monitor more effectively the implementation of these policies in its schools."

27.01.2012

Contact information

Notes to Editors:-

The Scrutiny Committee Chairman, Deputy Barry Brehaut, is available for interview.

Please contact Lisa Bougourd on 717223 or lisa.bougourd@gov.gg if you would like to arrange an interview.

Definitions:

"ADHD" - Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
"BECO" - Behaviour Co-ordinator
"CAMHS" - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
"SEN" - Special Educational Needs
"SENCO" - Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator