BEHAVIOUR POLICY
1. Girls in Sports Ethos and Objectives and Aims of the Behaviour Policy
Our aim is to empower our young people to become the best version of themselves.
Our sports and educational programmes are designed to help young people develop through social intelligence and boost education prowess through the power of sport. Allowing them to develop critical life skills including goal setting, discipline, teamwork, resilience, focus and hard work.
We want our young people to leave Girls in Sports as well-rounded individuals ready to return to mainstream education, better equipped for the future world of work and make a more positive contribution to society.
We strive to create a safe and stress-free environment, so our young people can both develop as people and improve educational capability.
The appropriate behaviour of all our young people is critical to us being able to achieve these aims.
Our Behaviour Policy aims:
- To support the ethos of Girls in Sports in promoting positive relationships, fostering equal opportunity and raising attainment for all.
- To provide a safe, purposeful and professional environment enabling program leaders to lead and all to learn, free from disruption, violence, bullying and any form of harassment or discrimination.
- To determine the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, the graduated responses regarding rewards and sanctions and how these responses will be fairly and consistently applied by all
- To ensure a range of early intervention strategies are in place to support expected behaviour however also challenge inappropriate behaviour and help reduce the risk of young people being removed from the program.
- To encourage positive behaviour rather than only responding to inappropriate behaviour.
- To ensure that the disciplinary procedures seek to resolve concerns.
- To be used as a clear foundation for communication between program leaders, young people and parents/carers.
2. Taking account of individual needs
The following groups of vulnerable young people may at some point require the program leaders of Girls in Sports to take account of their individual needs and circumstances when applying the Behaviour Policy:
- Minority ethnic and faith groups, travelers, asylum-seekers and refugees
- Young people with special educational needs
- Young people looked after by the local authority
- Sick young person
- Young carers
- Young people from families under stress
- Any other young person at risk of disaffection and exclusion
3. Girls in Sports young people’s Code of Conduct
Young people are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, productive and positive manner. Respect and understanding must be shown towards other young people, program leaders, mentors, visitors and to the environment within which everyone is working. This includes the local community and other site users.
Young people, parent/carers and program staff are expected to familiarise themselves with the following guidelines for young people:
3.1 Positive Behaviours
Girls in Sports encourages young people to:
- Take personal responsibility
- Be professional
- Complete program tasks to the best of their ability
- Be kind to others
- Be in the right place at the right time
- Help others
- Follow instructions first time
3.2 Equal Opportunities
Young people are expected to adhere to all aspects of Girls in Sports Equal Opportunities policy and to play an important part in its effective implementation.
Policy extract: Girls in Sports is committed to working towards becoming an equal opportunities foundation, not to discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability and in its active promotion of respect and response to a full range of individuals reflecting the society in which it operates.
3.3 Behaviours that will not be tolerated
Girls in Sports will not tolerate any of the following behaviours:
- Bullying – see Girls in Sports Anti-bullying Policy
- Cheating
- Rudeness
- Disrespect
- Dishonesty
- Discrimination or prejudice of any kind
- Harassment
- Swearing
- Disruptive behaviour
- Violence
- Vandalism including graffiti, tagging etc.
- Theft
3.4 Smoking, Drugs and Offensive Weapons
Girls in Sport has a no smoking policy. Young people should not bring cigarettes or lighters into the facility. If they are found smoking, these items will be confiscated, not returned to the young person and parents/carers will be informed.
We have a zero-tolerance policy of both drugs and weapons. Police will be informed in all cases of failure to adhere.
Failure to comply with any of the above rules may result in disciplinary procedure, which may result in your removal from the program
3.5 Time Keeping
Young people are expected to develop the excellent timekeeping required in the competitive industries for which they are preparing themselves.
3.6 Personal Organisation
Young people are required to prepare themselves for their chosen program, be punctual and properly equipped with what they need.
3.7 Personal Possessions
Young people are advised not to bring valuables, expensive clothing or large quantities of cash to the Girls in Sports facility as we cannot take responsibility for the loss of or damage to personal property and program leaders’/mentors should not be asked to take responsibility for these items.
3.8 Care for the Environment
Young people are expected to take care of the Girls in Sports environment and equipment. Misuse of the environment and equipment is not acceptable and will result in disciplinary action. Eating or drinking is permitted only in designated areas. Vandalism, litter or graffiti are not acceptable.
4. Authority to Search Pupils
Program leaders of Girls in sport are allowed to search young people if they suspect young person has Prohibited items which are:
• Knives and weapons
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Stolen items
• Tobacco and cigarette papers.
5. Role of all program managers/leaders
All members of the Girls in Sports foundation are expected to uphold the behaviour policy. Program leaders are expected to model good practice in support of the behaviour policy by demonstrating:
- High expectations: they will help young people understand the boundaries for attendance and behaviour
- Early intervention: they will intervene promptly to help to prevent further escalation of bad behaviour. Program leaders will make young people aware when their behaviour does not meet required expectations
- Identifying Issues: they will investigate the reasons for a young person’s behaviour and seek additional support for the young person where required.
- Providing Additional Support & Time: they will help with ‘Learning to Learn’ techniques, ensuring each young person understands how to access the intended knowledge or skill expected.
Parents/carers are asked to:
- Support expected behaviour through the re-enforcement of the behaviour expectations set by Girls in Sport
- Read, sign and return any letter forwarded to parents informing of any behaviour or progress concerns
- Support Girls in Sports decisions to aid their child’s capability.