Minor & Major Behaviours

Minor and Major Behaviours – Waikaia School

At Waikaia School, we understand that behaviour is complex and context matters. When responding to student behaviour, staff take into account the situation, impact, and the age and developmental level of the student involved. It's important to assess whether all parties were willing participants or if harm was caused unintentionally or deliberately.

We work within the PB4L framework and apply a traffic light system to support staff and students to respond appropriately. Minor behaviours that are repeated despite intervention may be reclassified as major behaviours.

Minor Behaviour – Yellow Response

A Yellow Response is used when a student displays behaviour that is classified as minor. These behaviours are managed by the classroom teacher using restorative conversations and low-level interventions.

If minor behaviours are repeated despite restorative support, they are escalated to Major Behaviour – Red Response.

Major Behaviour – Red Response

A Red Response is used when a student displays behaviour that is classified as major, or when minor behaviours are repeated despite interventions.

These behaviours are more serious in nature and require support from Senior Leadership Team (SLT). A collaborative plan is developed and recorded in EDGE, and whānau are contacted.

Emergency Intervention

Emergency Interventions are required when a student’s behaviour presents a serious and immediate risk to the physical or emotional safety of others. The priority is to ensure safety first.

What happens:

SLT intervenes immediately
Students are safely separated
Parents are contacted urgently
An investigation is conducted
Behaviour may result in stand-down or suspension depending on severity

Stand-downs and Suspensions

Under the Education and Training Act, the Principal may stand-down or suspend a student if:

The student’s behaviour is seriously harmful or a dangerous example to others
The behaviour is likely to result in serious harm to the student or others

Stand-down = Student is removed for up to 5 days per term (max 10 days per year)
Suspension = Student is removed until the Board meets to determine next steps

The Principal ensures that natural justice is upheld:

Students and whānau are informed
They are given a chance to respond
An unbiased decision is made

If after investigation, the incident does not meet the criteria for stand-down or suspension, it is reclassified as a Red Response and may result in the development of an Individual Behaviour Plan (IBP).