1. Ethical Statement
All Cap-A-Village (“Village”) students, parents, teachers, support staff and volunteers have the right to be safe and feel safe in our community. With this right comes the responsibility to comply with Village policies and procedures and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety or wellbeing of others. This Code provides parents and guardians with guidelines for developing positive relationships within the Village community and assists in promoting our core values, underpinning our mission, vision and ethos.
2. Purpose
The Village aims to provide an open, welcoming, and safe environment for all. We believe that all community members play a valuable role in the life of the Village. The health and welfare of all members of our Village community is important. All children and staff have the right to feel safe when at the Village. Parents/guardians play a formative role in the development of a child’s sense of justice, equity, and the dignity and worth of all members of our Village community. They act as one of the most influential role models within a child’s life. The responsibility for upholding the values of the Village in this matter must fall on those with the greatest capacity to reason and control their actions. As such the adult community of the Village is expected to model courteous behaviour and treat all members of the community with respect and consideration. This Code provides guidelines (Appendix 1) to promote desirable and appropriate behaviour to ensure that all interaction between students, staff, parents and guardians is respectful, honest, courteous, sensitive, tactful and considerate. It also provides a guide for communications (Appendix 2) to support the communication between the Village’s staff and parents. This Code also outlines the consequences for any member of the Village Community who does not comply with these standards of behaviour.
3. Application
For the purpose of this Code ‘Village Community’ comprises parents, guardians, step-parents, relatives, extended family, friends, supporters and carers, when in the Village environment or when attending any Village related function or activity at any other location. It is understood that parents and guardians agree to the Code of Conduct when parents/guardians sign the Enrolment Form with the Village. Although stepparents, relatives, extended family, friends, supporters and carers are not a party to that Enrolment Form, this Code of Conduct is a guide for them about expected standards of behaviour.
4. General Conduct
Parents/Carers and Guardians agree to:
• Show an active but non-invasive interest in their child’s Village work and progress;
• Work with the teaching staff to deal promptly with areas of concern;
• Treat all members of the Village community with respect and courtesy;
• Ensure that their child is appropriately dressed and prepared for the Village on a daily basis;
• Promptly report to the Village their child’s absence or late arrival;
• Bare the primary responsibility in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child;
• Observe confidentiality in respect of all information gained through participation in Village activities - all information held by the Villages should be handled with care and individuals should not discuss nor disclose personal information about other students, staff or students’ parents/guardians; and
• Not behave in ways that a reasonable person would consider to be offensive, intimidating, humiliating, aggressive, threatening or abusive.
Any parent or guardian who wishes to invite a relative, friend, supporter, carer or other person (adult or child) to be present at any Village related function or activity at any location, must first get permission and will be responsible for that person and must ensure that they act at all times in a manner consistent with this Code.
5. Complaints and Feedback
Cap-A-Village has developed a complaints policy to ensure that all concerns are dealt with by the Village in the appropriate manner. Should a parent or guardian be unable to resolve an issue informally, they may lodge a complaint with the Village. We commit to dealing with any complaint promptly and with the attention it deserves.
6. Child Protection Concerns
Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss any concerns about the health, safety and wellbeing of our students with one of the Cap-A-Village leaders.
7. Breach of Code of Conduct
The consequences for breaching this Code of Conduct will be determined by the Cap-A-Village Leadership team, which may include:
• A first and final warning, meeting and subsequent letter being issued to inform the relevant person/s of the outcome and that another breach of the Code of Conduct will not be tolerated.
• A banning from being on Village grounds or attending any Village related activity.
• A direction, in the case of a parent/guardian, that he/she may only communicate with members of staff through a specified Village representative.
• A restraining order being sought against the relevant person through the legal system.
• The Village may take such other steps as it may in its reasonable discretion, determined appropriate, according to the nature of the breach.
Fundamental to the enrolment of the students at the Village is that at all times, there is a relationship of trust, confidence and cooperation between the Parents/Carer and Guardians of the student, and the Village. If the Village determines that the relationship is irretrievably broken down and that there is no reasonable prospect of restoring the relationship, the Village may terminate the enrolment of the student at the Village.
Appendix 1
GUIDELINES - STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR
The following guidelines provide examples of general expectations. The Village notes that this list is not exhaustive.
Communication (Please also reference the Village’s Communication Protocols - Appendix 2)
• Parents/carers and guardians are expected to deal with our teaching and non-teaching staff in a way that is courteous and respectful at all times.
• Use courteous and acceptable language in written and verbal communication.
• Give encouraging and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism. Responses to emails and telephone calls are not expected to be instantaneous or out of normal working hours, unless of an urgent nature. The Village endeavours to respond within one day, although this may not always be possible.
• Parents/Carers and guardians, and other persons attending with children not enrolled in the Village are responsible for supervising the behaviour of those children.
• Parents and guardians are not to create social media pages that can be associated with the Village in any way, without the express permission of the Village Leadership Team. Your actions should not bring the Village’s name, image and/or reputation into disrepute.
• Parents and Guardians should follow and abide by the Village’s Communications Protocols – as outlined in Appendix 2.
Relationships
• Guidance and management of students at the Village is the responsibility of the parents/carers with guidance where appropriate from Village staff.
• Parents and guardians should not approach or interact with the children of other parents without those parents’ permission.
• Ensure that physical contact with students is appropriate given the age of, and relationship with, the student such that questions of impropriety do not arise.
• Acknowledge and affirm success in individual and Village achievement.
• Do not discuss any grievances in front of your children regarding the Village.
• Demonstrate that both parents and village staff work together for the benefit of the child.
• Refrain from public criticism of Village activities and events; as well as students and staff at the Village.
• Refrain from actions and behaviour that constitutes harassment or discrimination, including inappropriate use of social media within the Village Community.
Village Policies
• Support the Village’s Policies and acknowledge that the Village Leadership team is responsible for implementing the Village’s Policies.
• Comply with all relevant policies and procedures of the Village.
Conflict Management
• Seek staff assistance, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully.
• Work with the Village to deal promptly with areas of concern.
• Accept staff decisions and follow their directions. Speak with the staff member if there is a problem complying with any directions.
Appendix 2
COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL
PARENTS/CARARS/GUARDIANS & STAFF
Cap-A-Village prioritises the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people, and expects all staff and parents/carers to share this commitment.
Communication amongst students, parents and staff is an important part of education. Village communities thrive on open communication wherein staff, students, and parents/guardians have opportunities to share good news, discuss issues and maintain an ongoing dialogue.
The Village is committed to ensuring open, respectful and honest communication with parents. The Village Leadership team and Village staff communicate with parents/carers/guardians in a variety of inclusive ways that are reflective of our community. They may provide information in writing and/or speak with parents/carers/guardians in person. This will generally occur during the Village day.
We ask parents/guardians and all staff to follow the protocol and guidelines below:
Protocol and Guidelines
• Communication with Village staff is important and encouraged.
• Good communication is the result of parents/carers/guardians, staff and students working together, in partnership.
• Communication should be mutually respectful, honest and courteous with all parties listening to and empathising with each other.
• Telephone, email, written and face-to-face communication are appropriate forms of communication:
o Phone calls are most appropriate for immediate or urgent concerns.
o Email is suitable for routine information or clarification. It is not appropriate for sensitive engagement with issues.
o When telephone and email conversations become extended, face-to-face communication is appropriate.
• The Village will endeavour to respond to all phone calls and emails within one working day wherever possible, however on some occasions, this may not be possible, due to co-curricular activities and meetings after Village on certain days. Staff are not expected to respond to emails or phone calls during lesson times, nor before 8:00am or after 5:00pm on weekdays, nor are staff expected to respond on weekends.
• The Village owes a duty of care to its staff to protect them from intimidatory, threatening or bullying behaviour. Verbal and/or physical aggression or threats, offensive language or derogatory comments, whether face to face, over the phone, via email or on social media is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any contact determined to be of this nature will be terminated and referred to the relevant Village Leadership team.
• Emails or other communication that does not comply with protocol will only be acknowledged as having been received.
• It is not appropriate to submit group petitions, letters or emails. If parents have concerns, they are advised to approach the Village individually.
Parents are reminded that during the day, staff are expected to be primarily engaged in teaching duties and Village related business. It is not always possible to address all concerns immediately. Teachers do not generally check emails during lesson times, therefore parents/guardians should assume that any message sent via email to a teacher may not be read until after the Village sessions that day.
Parents are asked to bear in mind that the non-student time immediately preceding and following the Village day is used for Project preparation, staff meetings, scheduled appointments, training and professional development. Prior to the commencement of the Village day, teachers will also be engaged in meeting and greeting students. Parent meetings are to be scheduled to take such demands into account.
For major concerns, parents are asked to make an appointment with the appropriate member of staff. Where parents are unsure about who this is, they are encouraged to clarify this when making the appointment or contact the relevant Village Leadership team for guidance.
Under no circumstances should a parent approach another student directly about an issue with their own child. All concerns must be dealt with via the appropriate Village staff.