Behaviour policy

Aims and scope

This document outlines our approach and procedure regarding behavioural expectations from our employees, learners, and visitors. Waverley Training Services (WTS) has delivered qualifications and training to young people since 1981. Our delivery of Apprenticeships includes 16–18-year-olds who are in scope of the latest guidance from Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working together to Safeguard Children.

The primary aims of this policy are:

To provide support, advice and guidance to employees, learners and visitors on the behaviour standards expected.
To provide clear guidelines to support the maintenance and improvement of standards.
To protect employees, learners and visitors from misunderstanding or criticism.

In all instances, we expect anyone attending our premises to adhere to a high standard of behaviour and treat employees, learners, visitors and their surroundings with dignity and respect.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide support, clarification and guidance on behaviour expectations outlining what is acceptable behaviour from employees, learners, visitors, and anyone else carrying out services on behalf of the setting.

All Learners are expected to:

Treat everyone with dignity and respect and always be polite to others, including employees, peers, and visitors.
Follow all Health and Safety instructions.
Only smoke in the designated area.
Adhere to WTS Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy.
Attend all scheduled sessions, on time, whilst on programme.
Notify their tutor as soon as reasonably practicable if they are unexpectedly ill or cannot attend their scheduled sessions.
Follow any instructions provided for assessments by the invigilator when attending exams.
Follow the learner assessment cancellation policy outlined in confirmation emails for assessment bookings.

All Learners attending WTS must not:

Carry, consume or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
Obstruct fire exits or handle any of the fire safety equipment.
Be affiliated with a gang or carrying a weapon.

Sanctions and disciplinaries

Our aim is to encourage positive and productive behaviour. Unofficial ‘verbal warnings’ and directives will be given to try to change learner behaviour. If they are not followed, the below steps will be taken:

First formal warning will be issued in writing and recorded by the tutor, setting out the action required to correct the situation, and a time limit will be given to achieve that aim.
Second formal warning will be issued in writing and recorded by the tutor which will again, specify the required improvements and setting new reduced time limits for improvement to be seen.
Third and final warning will be issued in writing and recorded by the tutor. If improvements have not been achieved, it will be discussed with the Teaching and Learning Manager and a decision made about the learner’s future on the programme, this could include suspension, or dismissal.

Throughout the formal warning procedure, the learner may have a second person of their choice present. The tutor must also nominate another employee to be present in interviews.

The following actions will result in Immediate Dismissal:

Theft.
Physical or sexual violence.
Bullying.
Threatening behaviour.
Selling of drugs.
Involvement in gangs.
Crossing of County Lines.
Damage to WTS property.

Learners will not be permitted on our premises after dismissal and any certificates achieved will be forwarded to the listed home address.

Other serious matters may merit a ‘Final Written Warning’ without previous warnings and sanctions could end in withdrawal from their qualification.

Low level concerns

There may be times when there are safeguarding concerns regarding another employee, whereby these incidents do not meet the Safeguarding threshold for harm but still warrant the attention of addressing, this could entail reporting minor concerns about employees, volunteers or contractors.

It may include behaviour which is inconsistent with the Code of Conduct and not serious enough to warrant a formal referral to authorities.
It does not meet the threshold of harm or is not considered serious enough for a setting to refer to the local authority.

You should refer to the current Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and the Safeguarding and Child protection policy.

Low-level concerns may include:

Inadvertent or thoughtless behaviour.
Behaviour that might be considered inappropriate depending on the circumstances.
Behaviour which is intended to enable abuse.

Example behaviours may include:

Being over friendly with children, young people, or a vulnerable adult.
Having favourites.
Adults taking photographs of children on their mobile phone.
Engaging with a child on a one-to-one basis in a secluded area or behind a closed door.
Using inappropriate sexualised, intimidating, or offensive language.

All concerns should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) in their absence.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Krystel Rajewski

Email: safeguarding@wts.org.uk
Telephone: 07812 220811

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Charmaine Winter

Email: safeguarding@wts.org.uk
Telephone: 07812 220808

Version: 2

Publication date: September 2025

Review date: September 2026