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Disruptive Students.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (68)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

65 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science when the National Educational Welfare Board will complete the guidelines for schools on codes of behaviour; when this work was commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25797/06]

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Written answers

The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board. Under Section 23 of the Act schools are required to have in place a code of behaviour. The Act requires that each Board of Management formulates a code of behaviour in accordance with guidelines from the NEWB.

The Board, which ensures that children attend school regularly or receive an adequate education, appointed an expert group in November 2005 to draw up a discussion document on the guidelines for schools on developing Codes of Behaviour. This document will form the basis for a widespread consultation process with schools, parents, education partners, organisations working with children, and critically children themselves. The feedback from this consultation phase will inform the final Guidelines.

The Guidelines will focus on how schools can deal progressively and inclusively with behavioural issues, thereby helping to support participation in education for all. Poor behaviour impacts on the learning and teaching environment in a school and valuable class time can be taken up managing it and can also be a barrier to good attendance and participation in school activities.

The Board welcomes the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Behaviour in Second Level which are clearly based on a welfare and inclusive approach to education. In particular, the Board welcomes the recommendations aimed at supporting children in a school setting and the acknowledgement of the need for additional help and support for schools and their students.

The Guidelines will apply to all schools covered by the Act. They will take account of the work of the Task Force on Student Behaviour in Second Level and focus on supporting the process for the development of policy that promotes positive behaviour by students. I understand from the Board that consultation with stakeholders will take place in the autumn and it is expected to launch the guidelines early in the next school year.

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