Behaviour and discipline in schools

How school staff can develop a behaviour policy. Includes checklists and resources to support full school opening during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Documents
Behaviour and discipline in schools: guidance for headteachers and staff
Ref: DFE-00023-2014PDF, 280KB, 14 pages
Getting the simple things right: Charlie Taylor’s behaviour checklists
PDF, 726KB, 6 pages
Checklist for school leaders to support full opening: behaviour and attendance
PDF, 172KB, 4 pages
Details
Use these documents and links to promote good behaviour and discipline.
Further guidance and resources
- Creating a culture: a review of behaviour management in schools – Tom Bennett’s independent review on behaviour in schools
- Behaviour and discipline in schools – statutory guidance for governing bodies
- Respectful School Communities: Self Review and Signposting Tool
- Use of reasonable force in schools
- Improving school attendance: support for schools and local authorities
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Schools full opening guidance which outlines the behaviour expectations for all pupils
- Guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
Mental health, wellbeing and bullying
- Mental health and behaviour in schools
- Teaching about mental wellbeing
- Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing, published by Public Health England (PHE)
- Preventing bullying
Special education needs and disability (SEND)
- SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
- Back to school advice (England), published by Contact
Case studies
- Whole school approach: managing poor behaviour
- Using rewards: encouraging good behaviour
- School behaviour management case studies report
External research
- Behaviour: Improving pupil engagement and minimising disruptive behaviour, published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
- Low-level disruption in classrooms: below the radar, published by Ofsted
Published 16 July 2013
Last updated 2 September 2020 + show all updates
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Added links to further guidance and resources.
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Added ‘Checklist for school leaders to support full opening: behaviour and attendance’.
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Amended document to reflect that, from January 2016, schools will no longer have an obligation to use home-school agreements.
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Extended review date: we have reviewed and republished this guidance and confirmed it is up to date.
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Updated to remove references to running from the list of sanctions at school.
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Updated with new advice on sanctions for poor behaviour.
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First published.
Responses