In order for lunchtimes to run safely and happily for all concerned, we have established rules that are applicable specifically to lunchtimes. We aim for any instances of inappropriate behaviour choices to be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Our Red Card System empowers the Midday Assistants and Teaching Assistants to provide an appropriate consequence in line with the misdemeanour and ensure children have time to reflect on their actions. Furthermore, this behaviour system allows for the involvement of senior leaders when this is necessary.

Wherever they are at lunchtime, children are expected to adhere to the school’s Core Values –
Care, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Our specific lunchtime rules are:

In the dining hall (or if eating in classrooms or other locations of the school) children must:
• Line up in an orderly fashion
• Say please and thank you and use good manners
• Stay in their seats for the duration of their meal
• Talk calmly to others, never shouting
• Be gentle and not hurt others
• Be kind and helpful and not hurt anyone’s feelings
• Work together to solve problems, using words to express and explain, rather than actions
• Clear away their own plates, cutlery and any waste, including from their lunchboxes
• Walk sensibly and never run
• Return their lunchboxes to the lunchbox trolley carefully and neatly

In the playground, children must:
• Learn and know the rules for how to use our playground and adhere to them
• Be gentle and not hurt others
• Be kind and helpful and not hurt anyone’s feelings
• Play together and look after each other
• Work together to solve problems, using words to express and explain rather than actions
• Take care of our equipment and use it properly
• Leave dirt and rocks on the ground
• Ask to use, and behave sensibly in, the toilets, only going if needed (this is not a place to
play or remain for a chat)
• Tidy up after themselves
• Stop playing when the bell goes, stand still and listen quietly
• Tell an adult if they are feeling sad and/or lonely
• Tell an adult if someone is not following the rules

In the classroom at wet playtimes children must:

Learn and know the rules given by the Class Teacher about how to use their own classroom

• Be gentle and not hurt others

• Be kind and helpful and not hurt anyone’s feelings

• Play together and look after each other

• Work together to solve problems, using words to express and explain rather than actions

• Take care of our equipment and use it properly

• Ask to use, and behave sensibly in, the toilets, only going if needed (this is not a place to play or remain for a chat)

• Walk sensibly and never run

• Tidy up after themselves

• Stop playing at the end of lunchtime, sit quietly and be ready for registration

• Tell an adult if they are feeling sad and/or lonely

• Tell an adult if someone is not following the rules

 

In line with a zero-tolerance approach, if a child is not adhering to the rules above, a Midday Assistant or Teaching Assistant can issue a Yellow Card. This equates to:

- For Reception to Years 1 and 2: 5 minutes time out on the playground or dining hall

- For Years 3 to 6: 10 minutes time out in the playground or dining hall

This time is given to children in order to calm down, provide time and space between children and for reflection.

Examples of behaviour choices and actions that may result in a child receiving a Yellow Card:

• Deliberately disrupting other children’s play

• Showing disrespect towards a Midday Assistant or Teaching Assistant – this includes verbal (e.g. answering back) and non-verbal behaviours (e.g. rolling of eyes)

• Non-compliance

• Throwing food on the floor and/or behaving inappropriately with food

• Shouting and messing while eating, including being out of your seat

• Pushing in the line

• Entering the school building without permission

• Being silly and/or loitering in the toilets

• Unkind behaviour

• Being silly with equipment or items

If a child is not adhering to the rules above, and the behaviour displayed is of a more serious nature, a Midday Assistant or Teaching Assistant can issue a Red Card. In this event, the child (Years 1 to 6) is sent directly to the main office and a senior leader will speak with the child and take appropriate action.

On receipt of a Red Card, children will be removed from lunch play for a total of 30 minutes for a Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 child and 1 hour for children in Years 3 to 6.

Until they transition to Year 1, any Reception child who is given a Red Card will be separated from their peers but remain in the Reception area under the supervision of the Midday Assistants/EYFS staff. This ‘detention’ from play may span across more than one lunch break, dependent on the time that the Red Card was issued. If an incident occurs right at the end of playtime, then the whole ‘detention’ will be undertaken the following day. In all other respects, we treat a new day with a ‘fresh start’. Children will spend this time inside, with provision made for them to eat their lunch and have a comfort break.

This time is given to children in order to calm down, provide time and space between children and for reflection.

There are some types of behaviour choices and actions that will result in the immediate issuing of a Red Card. Examples include:

• Physical assault

• Threatening/aggressive behaviour

• Derogatory language (including, but not exclusively, racism, homophobia)

• Defiance

• Swearing

• Wilful damage/destruction of property*

• Stealing

• Using equipment or items dangerously or to cause harm

*See also Charges and Remissions policy as to how damage costs may be paid.

The Midday Assistants and Teaching Assistants will make decisions about the issuing of Yellow and Red Cards in a fair and consistent manner and with the children’s best interests at heart. Therefore, as with all adults in school, children must treat our Midday Supervisors and Teaching Assistants with respect. At the end of each lunchtime, a designated member of staff will collect in the Yellow and Red Cards and inform Class Teachers accordingly. A record will be kept of this information to allow us to track trends in behaviour at different times of the day and to provide support for children who are finding it hard to follow the rules of our playground. As cards can be issued by more than one Midday Assistant or Teaching Assistant, it is possible for a child to be given more than one Yellow Card in one lunchtime. This will be established at the end of the lunch time when the cards are collected. In this event, Years 1 - 2 children will be kept in for a further 20 minutes and Years 3 – 6 children will be kept in for a further 40 minutes the following day in order to make up the 30 minutes / 1 hour time in detention a Red Cards warrants.