Last term we surveyed the children and staff to find out what they think about the behaviour at Grange. The results showed that while everyone feels the general behaviour across the school is good there is room for improvement in the playground and corridors. The P5-7 children worked in groups to come up with ‘change ideas’ to help us improve the playground and the corridors and they had some very creative ideas! I have been visiting the classes each week to introduce a new challenge from the ideas the children generated. The P7 children are gathering data about what’s happening in the playground and corridors each week so that we can identify which ideas are working and how much we have improved.

In the playground the children want more to do! They have identified 10 zones and I have set each year group the challenge of working out the resources and rules they need for one zone each. Where they need to buy new resources they have to complete a Business Proposal Form which will be considered by the MAD Fundraisers. Some children and staff are working with representatives from the Parent Council who are also keen to help and to use the funds they have raised to buy new resources. The Parks Department are going to clear the forest area to make it safe so it can become our Adventure Zone. We have also submitted applications for funding from different sources and our aim is to have as many of the zones up and running by the end of term.

In the corridors the main problem is children running and bumping into each other. The first week we introduced a timetable for the Leadership Team to supervise each corridor area, dining hall and playground. Last week we introduced the idea of ‘Fantastic Walking’ where everyone slows down and walks proudly through the corridors keeping their hands to themselves. This has been great fun and the behaviour has improved dramatically with less running and pushing and with very positive feedback from a number of visitors, children and staff. This week the staff are escorting the children in their lines to the doors at the end of each part of the day to make sure everyone leaves in a safe manner.

Over the coming weeks we will be working on conflict resolution, excellent manners and class/ school rewards. Our overall aim to is to revisit the surveys we carried out last term and for the children to see that their ideas and efforts have led to significant improvements. I look forward to sharing our progress and the great fun we are having as we REACH FOR THE STARS!