Our Approach to Behaviour and Well-being
At The Willow Tree Academy, we believe that a thriving learning environment is built on strong, positive relationships. Our approach to behaviour and well-being is rooted in Restorative Practice, complemented by tools like our SEMH Scaling System and the Class Dojo & House System, all designed to nurture a supportive and responsible community.
Building and Repairing Relationships
We are proud to be a Restorative Practice School. This means our primary focus is on developing a strong sense of community and managing challenges by repairing harm and building relationships. We see ourselves at the heart of our community, and fostering positive connections is paramount for effective teaching and learning to flourish.
A Restorative school like ours:
Focuses on Relationships: Prioritising healthy interactions between all members of our school family.
Gives a Voice to All: Ensuring every pupil and staff member has the opportunity to be heard.
Provides Equal Opportunities for Engagement: Encouraging everyone to participate in resolving issues.
Separates the Deed from the Doer: Addressing the action, not labelling the individual.
Empowers Learning: Helping participants learn from their peers and their own mistakes.
Encourages Responsibility: Giving individuals opportunities to take ownership of their actions.
Restorative Practice shifts the emphasis from simply managing behaviour to actively building, nurturing, and repairing relationships. We know that a whole-school restorative approach contributes to:
Happier and safer schools for everyone.
Mutually respectful relationships among pupils and staff.
More effective teaching and learning experiences.
Reduced exclusions, keeping children in school.
Improved attendance, ensuring consistent learning.
Effective strategies for addressing bullying behaviour.
Raised morale and self-esteem across the school.
A culture of inclusion and belonging for all.
Increased emotional literacy, helping children understand their feelings.
For more detailed information, please read our dedicated WTA Parent RP Guide.
SEMH and Scaling: Supporting Emotional Well-being
As a school, we are committed to supporting the Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) of our entire community. Our scaling system provides a simple yet powerful way for children and staff to express how they are feeling.
At the start of the day and after lunch, children and staff will give themselves a number based on their current emotional state. This allows us to:
Open Conversations: Quickly identify and discuss how individuals are feeling.
Provide Timely Support: Offer the right support to our learners when they need it most.
We find this is a wonderful, proactive way to support well-being and ensure everyone feels understood and cared for at Roughwood.
Class Dojo and the House System: Celebrating Positive Choices
At Roughwood Primary School, we pride ourselves on teaching children to take responsibility for themselves and for the wider life of the school. Our Class Dojo system, combined with our vibrant House System, is a key part of how we encourage and celebrate positive behaviour and contributions.
Every child is assigned to one of our Houses, fostering a sense of team spirit and shared goals. Throughout the year, children can earn points for their House through positive actions. We have elected Heads of House and Prefects who take on important roles and responsibilities, leading by example. Each Friday, we announce the House winners, building excitement and healthy competition, culminating in a special celebration event at the end of the year for the winning House!
How Dojos Work:
Dojos are awarded to acknowledge children who consistently demonstrate our school values and positive behaviours. At the end of each week, the child with the most Dojos in their class will receive a certificate during our special mentions assembly.
Getting Involved with Your Child’s Dojos:
At the beginning of each academic year, parents will receive an individual login to Class Dojo, allowing you to view and track your child’s progress and achievements. We warmly encourage all parents to sign up and celebrate your child’s successes with us!
Positive Dojos are awarded for:
Home Learning Excellence: 1 Dojo for each day of reading completed, plus 1 for each piece of home learning submitted.
Active Participation: For exceptional contributions in class or noticeable effort from children who are normally quieter, such as offering insightful ideas or showing a strong desire to learn.
Contributing to Wider School Life: Representing the school at events (e.g., sporting events, community performances), or receiving positive feedback from out-of-school activities.
Resilience: Awarded to children who demonstrate perseverance and a ‘never give up’ attitude when faced with learning challenges.
Reflection: For children who consistently check their learning, reflect on previous lessons, and apply their understanding to make improvements.
Teamwork & Kindness: This covers all our core values – being thoughtful, considerate, courteous, showing kindness to others, and working well as a team both in and out of the classroom.
Special 5 Dojos: These are awarded for outstanding achievements:
Exceptional, child-led home learning projects.
100% attendance for a half-term.
An additional 5 Dojos for 100% attendance for the whole term.
Weekly Presentation: Each staff member awards a special 5 to one child each week for consistent good presentation skills or significant improvement.
We ensure that this system is applied fairly and consistently for all children.
Behaviour Policy
You can download the full Roughwood Primary School Behaviour Policy on our Policies page for more detailed information.
Interim Reports
Alongside your child’s Interim Academic Report, we will also send out termly reports detailing your child’s behaviour. These reports provide an opportunity for discussion with class teachers at parents’ evening, or sooner if required, to ensure we are working together to support your child’s development.