We believe that all children should feel safe, happy and secure in school at all times. We want all children to develop positive attitudes about themselves, others and towards their learning. Our policy is very much based on positive expectations. The Harrison Learning Tree underpins all we do – our focus on citizenship, attitudes to learning, responsibility and excellence provides a structure by which children and staff can understand themselves as learners and become more responsible for their attitudes to learning and behaviour so that they become genuine ‘Lifelong learners, with open minds’. 

Our five Values: Collaboration, Honesty, Equality, Respect and Responsibility are shared by the whole community; these are explicitly taught to give pupils an understanding of positive relationships and self-regulation, respect for others and the importance of a sense of community where everyone is valued and respected for the contribution that they make.  

Each class has developed a ‘Class Charter’ linked to the rights & responsibilities of everyone in school.  These reflect our whole school expected attitudes to learning and behaviour of: 

• Citizenship – For example: Setting a good example to others, especially those younger than ourselves, treating everybody in our school with courtesy and respect 
• Attitude to learning – For example: determination to challenge oneself and focus on a task 
• Responsibility – For example: being organised and making the right choices 
• Excellence – for example: completing a task to a high standard, mastering a new skill, 
  and the ideal that we will try our best in all that we do and will ask for help if we need it.   

Positive learning behaviours must be taught; everyone within our school community must have an understanding of expected attitudes to learning and behaviour that enable all pupils to learn. These behaviours must be modelled and understood by all stakeholders and facilitated by excellent classroom practice.  Excellent attitudes to learning and behaviour are fundamental to success in the classroom. We will recognise the needs of individuals but have high expectations for all pupils.  

The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child is at heart of our school and thus underpins our ethos, curriculum, attitudes, learning behaviours and class management. We strive for continuous improvement and excellence in our provision to ensure that all children can succeed.  

We believe that pupils learn best when expectations for learning and behaviour are clear and rewards and sanctions are followed through and applied fairly. 

We believe that it is vital that children should be rewarded for their effort and achievements. We celebrate achievement, attitudes to learning, effort and good behaviour and use these acknowledgements as role models for other pupils. We therefore operate a reward system in each year group that allows children to earn merits, stickers and certificates for good or improved work or learning, effort, excellent social skills and interaction or meeting an agreed behaviour target. We strongly believe that all children have the right to succeed,and we enjoy celebrating each other’s successes.