Module 2: Task 5a - Codes of Practice and Regulations

For this task, I thought it would be best to mind map a few ideas on codes of conduct and policies that I believe my place of work has. Being a school, there are a huge amount of policies in place to ensure the school adheres to the National standards. The task asked to do this wholly based on my own thoughts, so I have not turned to any documents. 

Safeguarding 

Safeguarding is ensuring you do everything in your power to the keep the children safe. At school, teachers are responsible for the welfare of their students. Not only is this in the case of making sure the environment is safe, but it's also observing any changes in children's behaviour and being sure to report anything you suspect could be an issue. This includes any suspiscion of bullying.  

Health and Safety 

Obviously within a school of young children, health and safety has to be extremely thorough. It is the staff who must ensure that all children stick to health and safety guidelines within individual classrooms, the school premises and on any school trips. This involves regular risk assessments to keep all areas danger-free and the responsibility of immediately reporting anything potentially dangerous to the site manager. As well as this, the staff are trained to have the correct conduct in first aid situations. 

Privacy 

Privacy is a very important part of being a teacher and working in a school environment. This includes the use of social media and keeping a professional stance in which speaking to pupil and parents though the use of Facebook etc. is not permitted. As well as not giving out your own personal information to the children, it is important to keep any information about them confidential and within the school only. 

Appropriate Behaviour

It is important as a teacher (or for anyone working in a school) to uphold a level of appropriate behaviour. This means keeping relationships between students and staff professional at all times as well as using the appropriate language, music, videos and other resources to suit the age of the children. 

My next task will be to compare the thoughts I've had with the actual legislation that I was given when I first started my job at the school.