A loving, family school, respecting and caring for our world and everyone in it.
Behaviour and Wellbeing
1. Our approach to behaviour
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At Otley All Saints, we are a loving, family school, respecting and caring for our world and everyone in it. Our approach to behaviour is rooted in our shared Christian values of love, forgiveness, faith, courage, honesty and respect and reflects our belief that every child should feel known, valued and supported to flourish.
We recognise that behaviour is closely linked to how children feel. Through positive relationships, clear expectations and consistent support, we help children develop kindness, self-belief and resilience. We focus on encouraging positive choices, celebrating success and guiding children to learn from mistakes in a safe and supportive environment.
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2. Our School Rules
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At Otley All Saints, our expectations for behaviour are guided by five clear and child-friendly school rules. These rules help children understand how to behave safely, respectfully and kindly in all aspects of school life.​
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Show respect
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Be kind
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Be honest
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Try your best
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Stay safe​
These rules underpin everything we do — from how children treat one another, to how we learn together, to how we celebrate positive behaviour and respond when things go wrong.
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5.The Behaviour Ladder – Supporting Positive Choices
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At Otley All Saints, we recognise that children sometimes need support to make positive choices. While we place a strong emphasis on celebrating positive behaviour, we also recognise the importance of responding calmly and consistently when children find things difficult.
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Our Behaviour Ladder is used to guide, support and restore. It helps children reflect on their choices in relation to our five school rules and supports them to return to learning, feeling safe, understood and ready to move forward. Most situations are resolved quickly through reminders, conversations and support.
'A loving, family school, respecting and caring for our world and everyone in it.'
3. Consistency and relationships
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Children feel most secure when adults respond with warmth, clarity and consistency. Across the school, staff use shared language, routines and expectations so children understand what is expected of them and how they will be supported.
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Strong relationships are at the heart of our behaviour approach. Staff take time to listen, build trust and show care and respect in every interaction. This sense of belonging helps children to take responsibility for their actions and feel confident to make positive choices.
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4. Celebrating Positive Behaviour
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At Otley All Saints, we believe that recognising and celebrating positive behaviour helps children to feel valued, confident and motivated. We place a strong emphasis on acknowledging effort, kindness, honesty and positive choices, in line with our school values and five school rules.
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Positive behaviour is celebrated in a range of age-appropriate ways, including verbal praise, encouragement from adults, recognition within the class, certificates, team points, special responsibilities and sharing successes with parents. These celebrations are used to recognise progress and effort, not just outcomes, so that all children experience success.
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Our approach to rewards is inclusive and supportive. While some additional class-based reward systems may look different across the school, they are used to respond to the needs of individual classes and always reflect our shared values and expectations.
"Spirituality is not something we can see; it is something we feel. It is awe and wonder, curiosity, creativity and inspiration. It's the incredible ideas that grow from your imagination. Spirituality is a quiet moment with our thoughts and questions about the world. It is spending time in nature and feeling at peace.It is connection and kindness; feeling loved and also loving others."
6. Supporting self-regulation & spirituality
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We understand that children are still learning how to manage their emotions and behaviour. Staff support children to recognise and talk about their feelings, reflect on what has happened, and develop strategies to help them self-regulate.
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Our approach is closely linked to our understanding of spirituality. Spirituality is not something we can see; it is something we feel. It is awe and wonder, curiosity, creativity and inspiration. It is the quiet moments when children reflect, ask questions, use their imagination, or find calm through connection with nature and the world around them.
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By giving children time, space and support to reflect and reset, we help them return to learning, feeling calm, understood and ready to succeed.
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7. How we support children with additional needs
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We are proud of our inclusive ethos and recognise that all children are individuals with different needs. Some children may require additional support to manage their emotions or behaviour, including children with SEND.
We carefully consider the environment, routines and support offered so that children feel safe and able to engage. For children who may find certain spaces or situations overwhelming, we make thoughtful adaptations to support regulation and emotional well-being.
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Our aim is always to remove barriers to learning, nurture confidence and enable all children to access school life alongside their peers.
8. Working in partnership with parents
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We believe the best outcomes for children come when school and home work together. Parents and carers are valued partners in supporting behaviour and emotional well-being.
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We communicate openly and regularly, celebrating positive behaviour and working collaboratively when concerns arise. Through shared understanding and consistency, we support children to grow in confidence, kindness and responsibility.
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A community of connection and kindness
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Spirituality at Otley All Saints is about connection and kindness — feeling loved and learning how to love others. These values shape how we treat one another every day and underpin our expectations for behaviour across the school.
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By nurturing children’s emotional, social and spiritual development, we aim to support them not only to behave well, but to grow into thoughtful, compassionate and resilient individuals.
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Related policies and further information
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Please click the links below for reference to our key policies relating to positive behaviour:
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