Behaviour at Hollybush Primary School
At Hollybush Primary School, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment where every child can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. Our approach to behaviour is rooted in our core values: Respect, Nurture, and Aspire—which guide everything we do, every day.
At the heart of our school is a commitment to building strong, trusting relationships with every child. We believe that meaningful connections between staff and pupils are the foundation for academic success, emotional security, and personal growth. Our staff take time to get to know each child as an individual — their interests, strengths, and what helps them feel safe and motivated. Through consistent interactions, active listening, and genuine care, we foster an environment where every child feels recognised and respected. These relationships not only support positive behaviour but also nurture a sense of belonging, helping children thrive both socially and emotionally.
As a restorative school, we believe in addressing behaviour through conversation, reflection, and repair. Our staff work proactively to model, teach, and support positive behaviour, with clear expectations that are consistent yet flexible enough to meet individual needs. Rather than focusing on punishment, we support children to understand the impact of their actions and take responsibility. Restorative approaches help all parties involved express how they feel, and enable those responsible to acknowledge the impact of their behaviour on others and find ways to make things right. These conversations are led by trained staff, and in many cases, by our Restorative Champions—pupils who help to model and guide peaceful problem-solving.
Our behaviour strategy is supported by the Behaviour Pyramid, which emphasises positive reinforcement and recognition of the behaviours we want to see. Alongside this, we use Trackit Lights, a visual behaviour system that allows pupils to earn green points for actions such as:
Exceeding expectations
Making good choices
Persevering through challenges
Showing kindness and good manners
Listening well and following instructions
Moving safely around school
Getting ‘Back on Track’ following a setback
Children who consistently demonstrate positive behaviour are celebrated and may take on leadership and responsibility roles within school, such as Hollybush Champions or Evergreens. These roles reflect the trust we place in our pupils and promote pride, aspiration, and responsibility.
To support children’s emotional regulation, we use the Zones of Regulation across school. These are part of daily life in every classroom, helping children to recognise their feelings, understand how emotions can influence behaviour, and choose strategies to return to a calm and ready-to-learn state. Our staff work closely with pupils to build a ‘toolkit’ of techniques so that every child can safely manage big emotions and thrive in a supportive and consistent environment.
Together, these approaches ensure that Hollybush is a place where every child feels respected, nurtured, and empowered to aspire. We work in partnership with families to guide children in making positive behaviour choices, growing not only as successful learners, but as thoughtful, kind, and resilient individuals