Positive Behaviour in School
Our schools across Dumfries and Galloway have high expectations and high aspirations for pupils and staff. Like you, we want the best possible future for your child. We know that children do better at school and go on to achieve more in life when families and schools work together.
We want to make sure that you, as parents and carers, feel involved in your child’s learning, and feel welcome and listened to in our schools. We have a shared interest in your child being happy, confident and successful in school. A part of this is to encourage positive behaviour in our schools and communities. Parent as positive role models is key.
Positive Behaviour
Scottish based research shows that school who have positive relationships throughout the school community and include the voice of children and young people meaningfully in decisions have higher achievement.
It is essential that adults model behaviour which promotes positive relationships and positive behaviours. Therefore, we encourage adults to be positive and supportive creating spaces where children and young people feel safe, secure, listened to, and secure in their ability to discuss sensitive issues.
School Policies
All schools should have an anti- bullying policy. This policy must reflect the Dumfries and Galloway guidance, and also Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People.
Schools will have different ways of putting the principles of anti-bullying into practice to reflect local environments and culture. Schools should have an approach which makes it clear that bullying behaviour will be addressed in line with Scottish Government approaches.
The entire school community: teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents, should be involved and must be committed to this and this can be achieved by working together in the development and implementation of the school’s anti-bullying policy.
The policy should be reviewed on a regular basis and schools are currently reviewing and updating theirs, following the advice provided by Respect me.
Your role in positive behaviour
Your Parent Council plays a key role in representing the views of all parents in the school. When the school is looking at policies and plans like positive behaviour and anti-bullying you can share your views and support this work through your Parent Council. Your school office will be able to tell you who to contact if you do not know.
Respect for All
The Directorate of Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Respect for All Guidelines (2018) updated in 2025 for schools incorporates revised national anti-bullying guidelines (Scottish Government 2017) that underpins our Schools Policy. We also acknowledge The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Children’s rights are now embedded in Scottish legislation with the promotion and upholding of the rights of children and young people and states that all education should develop each child’s personality and talents to the full.
Children’s voices should be heard, and their wishes respected without discrimination of any kind.
The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on schools to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
- Foster good relations between people share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
The Equality Act 2010 put legislation in place to prevent direct or indirect discrimination against persons due to their:
- Age
- Disability
- Sex (Gender)
- Gender reassignment (Transgender)
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual Orientation
More Information – Respectme
Parents are able to access free resources and information from Respectme.
Their vision is of a respecting, just, equal and inclusive Scotland in which all children and young people can live free from bullying and harassment and are encouraged to reach their full potential. Their work is driven by a focus on children’s rights.
https://www.respectme.org.uk/campaigns
For many children, knowing that there is an adult that they can trust to help them if they are impacted by bullying is an essential part of coping with it. For some children however, stigmatising attitudes about bullying and discrimination can create barriers and make getting the right support difficult.
We want to help ensure that all adults who are involved in the lives of children are informed, supportive and aware of bullying so that they know what to do to help.
We encourage all adults to complete the Understanding Bullying and Responding to Bullying eLearning courses.
Respectme have produced a number of publications, with information and advice tailored to meet the needs of adults and of children and young people.
For more information on Parental Involvement and Engagement in Dumfries and Galloway, please visit: Dumfries and Galloway Council Parental Involvement and Engagement
Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing
Telephone: 030 33 33 3000
