Guidance

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.

Published 16 July 2013
Last updated 2 September 2020 — see all updates

• From: Department for Education

• Applies to: England

Documents

Behaviour and discipline in schools: guidance for headteachers and staff

Ref: DFE-00023-2014 PDF, 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

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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

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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

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Special education needs and disability (SEND)

• SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years
• Back to school advice (England), published by Contact

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Case studies

• Whole school approach: managing poor behaviour
• Using rewards: encouraging good behaviour
• School behaviour management case studies report

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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

1. 2 September 2020

   Added links to further guidance and resources.

2. 9 July 2020

   Added 'Checklist for school leaders to support full opening: behaviour and attendance'.

3. 4 January 2016

   Amended document to reflect that, from January 2016, schools will no longer have an obligation to use home-school agreements.

4. 24 September 2015

   Extended review date: we have reviewed and republished this guidance and confirmed it is up to date.

5. 12 September 2014

   Updated to remove references to running from the list of sanctions at school.

6. 3 February 2014

   Updated with new advice on sanctions for poor behaviour.

7. 16 July 2013

   First published.