Children are never naughty, says head
NAUGHTY children do not exist, claims the head of a school where teachers are banned from punishing bad behaviour.
Staff at Barrowford primary school, Barrowford, near Nelson, Lancashire, cannot shout at disruptive children and must calmly explain how their actions “impact on emotional well-being”.
Pupils aged four to 11 are told to settle their disputes and express their emotions with phrases such as, “You have emptied my resilience bucket”.
Head Rachel Tomlinson said: “We don’t label children naughty at all. It’s important they see themselves as intrinsically good and build up a positive sense of self.”
The school, rated good by Ofsted, has adopted the slogan “learn to love, love to learn”.
We don’t label children naughty at all. It’s important they see themselves as intrinsically good and build up a positive sense of self
In seven years no child has been suspended from the 355-pupil school which says its core value is “unconditional positive regard”.
A child who shows persistent or extreme bad behaviour takes part in a “restorative conference” to “heal damaged relationships”.
There is a nurture room for pupils who can’t sit in class, where they are taught to manage their feelings.
Ms Tomlinson says punishment “robs the victim and perpetrator of the things they need”.
But Chris McGovern, from the Campaign for Real Education, said: “It is a recipe for chaos. Children need boundaries.”