Behaviour and Discipline

Code of Behavior and Reward Scheme

The staff of Ennis National School want to create a climate of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual safety for students, teachers and parents so that teaching and learning can occur within relationships of mutual valuing and respect. We want pupils to be self-motivated and to be at peace with themselves, others and the world. This requires the help and co-operation of pupils, teachers and parents. Parents/guardians can assist the school by encouraging their children to abide by the school rules, encouraging punctuality and regular attendance and by ensuring that homework is given due time and effort.

Our approach to promoting positive behaviour is based on the following principles:

We encourage pupils to appreciate their own value and the value of others, fostering relationships based on mutual respect. All members of our school community—pupils, teachers, and parents—are expected to treat one another with kindness and respect, in alignment with our BÍ Cinéalta (Be Kind) policy.

We emphasise the importance of pupils’ emotional and social wellbeing. Pupils are supported in developing self-awareness, empathy, and positive social skills to contribute to a peaceful and cooperative learning environment.

We aim to instill a sense of responsibility in our pupils, encouraging them to be self-motivated and to take ownership of their actions. Through consistent routines and expectations, we support pupils in understanding the importance of choices and consequences.

The partnership between home and school is vital to fostering a positive learning environment. Parents/guardians are encouraged to support our Behaviour and Discipline policy by helping their children understand and follow school rules, promoting punctuality and regular attendance, and ensuring that homework receives appropriate time and attention.

We strive to practice restorative approaches when addressing misbehaviours. Instead of focusing solely on punishment, we encourage pupils to understand the impact of their actions, take responsibility, and actively repair any harm caused. Restorative conversations and mediations allow students to voice their feelings, listen to others, and collaboratively find solutions. This approach fosters empathy, accountability, and the restoration of relationships, aligning with our goal of building a compassionate and connected school community.

Bí Cineálta pupil-friendly version of our Anti-Bullying policy

At Ennis National School, we believe that for our policies to be truly effective, they must resonate with our pupils and reflect their perspectives. To this end, we actively involved pupils in creating a pupil-friendly version of our BÍ Cinéalta Anti-Bullying Policy.

Teachers held age-appropriate discussions with pupils about what kindness, respect, and inclusion mean to them in everyday school life. Pupils shared insights on how they feel safe, valued, and supported by their peers, which guided our definitions and examples of positive behaviour.

Pupils helped shape the language and examples in the policy, making it relevant and understandable for all age levels. Pupils were asked about the types of behaviours they consider kind and unkind, as well as what actions would help make them feel supported if they experienced bullying.

Visual and Accessible Policy Format: Based on pupil feedback, we created a visual, easy-to-read version of the BÍ Cinéalta policy. For example, “What to Do if You Feel Hurt” outlines clear steps that pupils can follow to seek help, fostering confidence that their voices will be heard and that teachers are there to support them.

Download our pupil-friendly version of our Anti-Bullying policy

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Code of Behaviour

Download Ennis National School Complete Code of Behaviour

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Our School Code of Behaviour Details:

The standards of behaviour that shall be observed by each pupil attending the school;
The whole school approach in promoting positive behaviour;
The measures that shall be taken when a pupil fails or refuses to observe those standards;
The procedures to be followed before a pupil may be suspended or expelled from the school concerned;
The grounds for removing a suspension imposed in relation to a pupil
The school’s Anti-Bullying Policy
The procedures to be followed in relation to a child’s absence from school.

Should a parent/guardian be concerned about any aspect of their child’s behaviour they are welcome to make an appointment to discuss their concerns.

Positive Behaviour

As a general rule the school will endeavour to create an environment where positive behaviour is reinforced through praise and reward. School staff will use encouraging language and gestures, both in class and around the school, so that positive behaviour is instantly recognised and positively rewarded. Special attention will be paid to pupils who have previously been associated with poor behaviour so that not only good behaviour but also improvement in behaviour is acknowledged.

Positive Behaviour Reward Scheme

A reward scheme for promoting positive behaviour is used. Such rewards include;

‘Congratulations’ and ‘Good News’ postcards and texts sent to parents/guardians
Personalised letters to parents/guardians or notes in Homework Diary
Special privileges
Principal’s Awards