Parent & Visitor Code of Conduct

NHPS Visitor Information - 2026

At Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School we are fortunate to have supportive and friendly parents. Educating children works best as a partnership between home and school, and a good working relationship between the adults around a child gives them the best start for the next stage of their education and for adult life.

This code sets out what we expect from parents, carers and visitors, and what you can expect from us, so that school is a safe and positive place for every child.

What you can expect from us

• We will treat you with courtesy and respect.
• We will listen to your concerns and take them seriously.
• We will acknowledge messages and requests for a meeting within two school days, and arrange a time to talk as soon as we reasonably can.
• We will be honest with you about what we can and cannot do, and explain our decisions.
• We will keep information about your family confidential, sharing it only where we need to in order to keep a child safe.

Respect and concern for others

We ask all parents, carers and visitors to show respect and concern for others by:

• supporting the respectful ethos of our school, setting a good example in their own speech and behaviour towards every member of the school community;
• working with teachers for the benefit of children, and bringing any concern to school so it can be discussed and resolved;
• reinforcing the school's approach to behaviour;
• respecting the learning environment, both in school and off site;
• driving safely and parking with consideration for others and for our neighbours when dropping off and collecting children.

Behaviour we cannot accept

To keep school peaceful and safe, we do not tolerate:

• disruptive behaviour that interferes with a classroom, an office area or any other part of the school grounds;
• loud or offensive language, or displays of temper;
• intimidation, harassment, threats of harm, or physical aggression towards any adult or child. This includes approaching someone else's child to discuss or reprimand them, and physical punishment of your own child on school premises. Some of these actions may amount to an assault, with legal consequences;
• damage to school property;
• abusive, threatening, malicious or inflammatory emails, phone calls, or messages on social networks;
• smoking or vaping anywhere on the school site, including e-cigarettes;
• consumption of alcohol or other drugs on site, or arriving at school under the influence of either.

Visiting the school

Everyone who comes into school beyond the main entrance, including parents helping in class, must:

• report to the school office to sign in, and sign out again when leaving;
• wear the visitor badge or lanyard they are given, visibly, for the whole visit;
• stay with the member of staff looking after them, unless they have been told otherwise;
• follow any instruction given by staff, particularly in the event of a fire alarm or lockdown.

Visitors who have not had the checks required to work with children unsupervised will not be left alone with pupils at any time. This is not a comment on any individual. It is how we keep every child safe.

If you need to collect your child during the school day, please come to the office rather than to the classroom.

Photography and filming

We know how much families want to capture school performances and sports days, and we will always try to make that possible.

• Please only take photographs or film where we have said you may. We will tell you at the start of an event.
• Photographs and film taken at school events are for your own family's personal use.
• Please do not post images that include other people's children on social media, or share them in group chats, without the permission of their parents.
• Please do not photograph or film staff without their agreement.
• Some children cannot be photographed for safeguarding or legal reasons, and we will not always be able to explain why. Following these rules protects those children.

Mobile phones should not be used in areas where children are changing, and we ask that you keep phones away during the school day when you are in classrooms.

Raising a concern

If something is worrying you, please tell us. Most things are resolved quickly with a conversation.

1. Speak to your child's class teacher first.
2. If the matter is not resolved, ask to speak to a member of the leadership team or the Headteacher.
3. If you are still unhappy, our Complaints Policy sets out the formal process, including how to contact the Chair of Governors.

If your concern is about the safety or welfare of a child, please see our Safeguarding pages, or phone the school office on 01327 351466 and ask to speak to a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

We ask that meetings with staff are not recorded unless everyone present has agreed to it beforehand.

Social media and online conduct

Social media is sometimes used to raise complaints about schools, staff, or other families. We consider that unacceptable. It sets a poor example to children, rarely resolves anything, and can cause real harm to the people involved.

Concerns about the school should come to the school, through the steps set out above, so they can be dealt with fairly and properly.

Where a pupil, parent or family member posts defamatory or abusive comments about our community on a social network, we will report the content to the site and ask that it is removed. In serious cases we will consider our legal options, and where a post is used to humiliate another member of our community we will treat it as bullying and may refer the matter to the police.

Dogs on the school site

With the exception of assistance dogs, dogs are not permitted on the school site or in the playground at drop off and collection. Please tie up your dog outside the gates or leave it at home.

If this code is not followed

Almost every concern is settled with a conversation, and that is always our first step.

Where behaviour on our premises, or directed at a member of our community online, falls seriously below the standard set out here, we may report it to the police or other authorities. Under section 547 of the Education Act 1996 it is an offence to cause a nuisance or disturbance on school premises, and the Governing Body may withdraw permission for an individual to be on the school site.

If that step is ever taken:

• we will write to you explaining the reason, what it means in practice, and how long it will last;
• we will always make arrangements so that your child's education and your contact with school are not affected;
• you may make written representations to the Chair of Governors within ten school days, and a panel of governors who have not been involved will review the decision;
• any restriction will be reviewed at the end of the period set, or sooner if circumstances change.

We trust that all parents, carers and visitors will support this code of conduct, and we are grateful for the good relationships we have with our families.