Behaviour
ASPIRE - LEARN - FLOURISH
The Aspire Learning Federation is made up of two schools - Elm Park Primary School and R J Mitchell Primary School in the London Borough of Havering.
Positive Relationships & Restorative Practices
At Elm Park Primary, we believe that children learn best in an environment built on respect, trust, and care.
Our approach to behaviour is restorative, which means we focus on repairing relationships, teaching self-regulation, and helping children learn from their mistakes.
Our Core Values
Everything we do is guided by ASPIRE, our core values:
‘Aspiring to be the best we can be’
ASPIRE We strive for success in all we do
Achieve We reach our goals
Success We enjoy the feeling of achievement
Perseverance We keep trying and never give up
Independence We can do things for ourselves
Respect We treat others with kindness and understanding
Enthusiasm We are motivated and interested in our learning
These simple principles help all our children feel secure, valued and confident to learn.
What is Restorative Practice?
Restorative practice helps children:
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Understand how their actions affect others
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Take responsibility and make things right
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Build empathy and positive relationships
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Develop strategies to manage their emotions
When things go wrong, we use restorative conversations rather than punishment.
Staff use calm, respectful dialogue to help children reflect:
What happened?
What were you thinking or feeling at the time?
Who has been affected and how?
What needs to happen to put things right?
How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again?
This approach encourages accountability, self-discipline, and growth.
How We Support Positive Behaviour
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Clear routines and expectations – all staff use consistent language and approaches (‘The Elm Park Way’)
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First attention to best conduct – we notice and praise positive choices before addressing negative ones.
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Emotion coaching – we help children recognise their feelings, label them, and learn positive ways to respond.
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Restorative follow-up – we repair relationships and help pupils move forward together.
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Visible rewards – praise, stickers, postcards home, and achievement awards that celebrate our core values.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We know that children thrive when school and home work together.
We keep parents informed, listen to concerns, and celebrate successes together.
If behaviour issues arise, we work with families to help children reflect, restore and improve.