Creating a safe and welcoming school - INEE Toolkit

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very different level than adults. Disorder conveys a strong message ofan uncaring administration. Unclean and disorganized places alsocreate real danger and potential harm to students, whose physicalnature is full of energy and impulsive behaviour.The school’s physical surroundings often make the firstwelcoming impression on students. Adult’s attitudes reinforce themessage of welcome and safety. Consider your students as gifts thatcome into your life each day. Smile at them, thank them for being atschool and offer a positive greeting.Suggested reading: Couchenor & Chrisman, 2003; Hopkins, 2005;Hulley & Dier, 2005; Mayer, 2004.8
2. SafetyEnsure a safe environment for students;respond to sickness and acts of aggressionimmediately. Keep strangers away from theschool.A child’s most basic reaction in the face of fear is to shut down, hideand deny the reality of the situation. So, if children walk into a schoolenvironment that is oppressive to them, they will shut down. In otherwords, they will stop their school work.Children pick up feelings of safety from very subtle signals inadults. If a student comes to school physically sick and the teacher justignores their distress, then the other students in the classroom feelunsafe. The other students will feel: “What would happen if I amsick?” All the students will feel safer when a sick student is attendedto or sent home as quickly as possible.Responding to sickness is not the only way that we make studentsfeel safe. Outsiders should not be allowed on the school property.Adults and young people who have no relationship with the studentsshould not be allowed on the school grounds. Outsiders on the schoolgrounds cause your students to feel uncertain, confused and unsafe.Preventing and stopping physical aggression is another way wecan make children feel safe. Strict rules and regulations should be inplace that respond immediately to aggression among the students. Achild’s perception of time is unique. The time that elapses in athreatening situation can seem like an eternity in the scared child’smind. Having clear rules and procedures for responding to aggressiveacts in the school allows adults to respond immediately.Suggested readings: Bluestein, 2001; Brand et al., 2003; Kibble, 2004;Randazzo, 2006; Weist, Evans & Lever, 2003.9
Page 1 and 2: INTERNATIONAL ACADEMYOF EDUCATIONIN
Page 3 and 4: Series prefaceAs revealed by its ti
Page 5 and 6: Table of contentsIntroduction, page
Page 7: 1. A welcoming environmentA child s
Page 11 and 12: 4. Student and parent orientationOr
Page 13 and 14: • Any messages from the principal
Page 15 and 16: powerful position in a child’s li
Page 17 and 18: members on the Crises Response Team
Page 19 and 20: 8. School disciplineSchool discipli
Page 21 and 22: 9. Illegal substance abuse in schoo
Page 23 and 24: 10. Motivation-building for student
Page 25 and 26: References and further readingBlues
Page 27: Sansone, C.; Harackiewicz, J.M., ed

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