We are very proud and fortunate to have a very dedicated and supportive wider community at St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare.  Staff, governors and parents all recognise that educating children is a process that involves partnership between home and school and understand the importance of a good working relationship to equip children with the necessary skills for adulthood.
For these reasons, we welcome and encourage parents to participate fully in the life of their child’s school | nursery | daycare. 

Purpose and scope

The purpose of this code is to provide a reminder to all parents and visitors about expected conduct so that we can work together to ensure safe and positive environments for our children.

We use the term ‘parents’ to refer to:

• Anyone with parental responsibility for a pupil
• Anyone caring for a child (such as grandparents or child-minders)

We use the term ‘school’ to refer to:

• St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School & Nursery
• St Sebastian's Daycare

Respect and concern for others and their rights

We expect parents and visitors to show respect and concern for others by:

• supporting the respectful Catholic ethos of our school by setting a good example in their own speech and behaviour towards all members of their school community;
• working together with teachers for the benefit of our children. This includes approaching the school to resolve any issues of concern and to discuss and clarify specific events in order to bring about a positive solution. This can include seeking to clarify a child’s version of events with the school’s view in order to bring about a peaceful solution to any issue;
• correcting their own child’s behaviour, especially where it could lead to conflict
• avoiding using staff as threats to admonish children
• demonstrating in their own behaviour that all members of the school community should be treated with respect
• reinforcing the school’s policy on Behaviour & Relationships;
• keeping our children safe by adhering to the school’s request to park safely outside the school gates during morning and afternoon collections as well as showing respect and consideration for our neighbours.

In order to support a calm and safe school environment, St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare does not tolerate:

• disruptive behaviour which interferes with the operation of a classroom, the office area or any other part of the school grounds (including events on the school grounds and sporting competitions);
• using loud and/or offensive language or displaying temper;
• threatening harm or the use of physical aggression towards another adult or child. This includes approaching someone else’s child in order to discuss or chastise them and physical punishment against your own child on school premises (some actions may constitute an assault with legal consequences);
• damaging or destroying school property;
• the filming or recording of any abusive, threatening or aggressive behaviour instigated towards a member of staff or child;
• abusive, threatening, malicious, discriminatory, hateful or inflammatory communications, including emails, phonecalls, text messages, WhatsApp messages, social media posts or other online communications, directed towards or concerning any member of the school community;
• spreading or sharing false, misleading, malicious or harmful information about the school, its pupils, families, staff or members of the wider school community, whether verbally or through WhatsApp groups, text messages, social media or other online platforms. This includes discriminatory, hateful or inflammatory content and content which may cause harassment, intimidation, distress or harm;
• using mobile phones or other personal recording devices on the school site, including during morning drop-off and afternoon collection, unless specifically authorised by a member of staff.
• smoking and consumption of alcohol or other drugs or accessing the school site whilst intoxicated;
• dogs being brought on to the school premises (other than guide dogs).

The school takes such behaviour seriously, whether it occurs on the school premises or online. Where behaviour raises safeguarding concerns or may constitute harassment, threatening behaviour, discrimination, a hate incident or a criminal offence, the school may report the matter to the appropriate authorities.

The school also reserves the right to restrict an adult's access to the school premises where this is necessary to safeguard pupils, staff and the wider school community.

Social Media and Online Communications

Social media, messaging applications and other online platforms can be positive ways for families and communities to communicate. However, their use must not compromise the safety, privacy, dignity or wellbeing of children, staff, governors, parents, carers or other members of our school community.

St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare expects all parents, carers and visitors to communicate responsibly and respectfully online. This expectation applies to social media, WhatsApp and other messaging groups, text messages, emails and any other form of digital or online communication.

Parents and carers have the right to express their views and raise legitimate concerns about the school. We ask that concerns relating to school are raised directly with us so that they can be considered fairly, appropriately and with all relevant information available. In most circumstances, concerns should initially be raised with the Class Teacher before being escalated through the appropriate school procedures, including the school’s Complaints Policy where necessary.

Social media, WhatsApp groups and other online platforms must not be used to make or circulate abusive, threatening, discriminatory, defamatory, harassing or malicious communications, or to discuss individual children, families or members of staff inappropriately.

False or Misleading Information

The school takes seriously the creation or circulation of false, misleading or malicious information, rumours or allegations about the school or members of our school community.

Parents, carers and visitors must not knowingly create, post, forward or circulate false or misleading information, rumours or malicious allegations about pupils, families, staff, governors or the school through WhatsApp groups, text messages, emails, social media or other online platforms.

Information can spread quickly online and may cause significant distress or harm to individuals and the wider school community. Where there is uncertainty about something that has happened in school, we encourage families to contact the school directly rather than relying upon or circulating information which may be incomplete, inaccurate or misleading.

Photographs, Videos and Content Shared by School

Photographs, videos and other content shared through the school’s private communication platforms, including ClassDoJo, are provided to families for the purpose of communicating and celebrating children’s experiences and achievements in school.

Access to content through a private school communication platform does not give parents or carers permission to copy, screenshot, download, forward, publish or redistribute photographs or videos containing other people’s children.

Parents and carers must not share photographs or videos containing other children on their personal social media accounts, WhatsApp or other messaging groups, websites or other online platforms without the appropriate consent of those children’s parents or carers.

Consent given by a parent or carer for the school to photograph or use an image of their child does not constitute consent for another parent, carer or visitor to publish, distribute or otherwise use that image.

Parents and carers are therefore expected to respect the privacy and wishes of other families when receiving photographs, videos or other information through school communication systems.

The same expectations apply to photographs or videos taken by parents, carers or visitors at school events. Where photography or filming is permitted, images or recordings containing other children must not be published or shared online without appropriate consent. The school reserves the right to restrict photography or filming where this is necessary to safeguard children or protect their privacy.

Online Activity We Will Not Tolerate

This includes:

• abusive, threatening, discriminatory, hateful, intimidating or malicious comments or communications about pupils, staff, governors, parents, carers or other members of the school community;
• creating, posting, forwarding or knowingly circulating false or misleading information, rumours or malicious allegations about the school or members of the school community;
• posting or sharing defamatory or potentially libellous material;
• using social media, WhatsApp or other messaging platforms to inappropriately discuss complaints, incidents or concerns involving individual children, families or members of staff;
• online harassment, intimidation or cyberbullying of any member of the school community;
• sending or circulating abusive, threatening, malicious or inappropriate emails, messages, posts or other communications;
• publishing or sharing information which compromises the privacy, dignity, confidentiality or safeguarding of a child or another member of the school community;
• photographing, filming or recording children on the school site contrary to school expectations or instructions;
• downloading, copying, screenshotting, forwarding or redistributing photographs, videos or other content from the school’s private communication platforms where this includes images or personal information relating to other children;
• posting photographs or videos containing other people’s children on personal social media accounts, WhatsApp groups or other online platforms without appropriate parental or carer consent;
• using photographs, videos or information shared privately by the school for purposes other than those for which they were originally shared;
• sharing information which could compromise the school’s safeguarding or security arrangements.

Safeguarding and Online Behaviour

St Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare takes its safeguarding responsibilities seriously. Online behaviour may become a safeguarding matter where it places a child at risk of harm, compromises a child’s privacy or safety, or involves harmful, abusive, discriminatory or inappropriate content, conduct or contact.

Where online activity gives rise to a safeguarding concern, the school will respond in accordance with its Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, including referring concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and/or appropriate external agencies where necessary.

Responding to Inappropriate Online Activity

Where inappropriate online activity is brought to the school’s attention, the school will consider the nature, context and seriousness of the matter and respond proportionately.

Depending upon the circumstances, the school may:

• retain screenshots, messages or other evidence of the communication or online activity;
• contact the individual concerned;
• request that inappropriate content is removed;
• report content through the relevant social media or online platform;
• address the matter through the school’s appropriate policies and procedures;
• seek advice from the Local Authority or appropriate professional or legal advisers;
• make a safeguarding referral where the welfare of a child may be at risk; and/or
• refer the matter to the police or another appropriate external agency where necessary.

Where communications or online behaviour may constitute harassment, threatening behaviour, discrimination, a hate incident or another criminal offence, the school may seek advice from or refer the matter to the appropriate external agency, including the police where appropriate.

In particularly serious or persistent circumstances, the school may consider what further action is necessary to protect pupils, staff and the wider school community, including seeking appropriate legal advice and considering whether restrictions on an individual’s access to the school site are necessary and proportionate.

The purpose of these expectations is not to prevent legitimate discussion, constructive feedback or criticism of the school. We ask that concerns are raised through appropriate channels and that all communication concerning our school community remains respectful, responsible and mindful of the privacy, dignity, safety and wellbeing of others.

What happens if someone ignores or breaks the code?

In the event of any parent or visitor of the school breaking this code, then proportionate actions will be taken as follows:

If St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare becomes aware that a parent has breached the code of conduct, the school will gather information from those involved and speak to the parent about the incident.

Depending on the nature of the incident, an individual school may then:

• Send a warning letter to the parent. In cases where the code of conduct has been broken, but the breach was not libellous, slanderous or criminal matter, the school will send a formal warning letter to the parent with an invitation to a meeting with a senior member of staff or the Headteacher.
  • If the parent refuses to attend the meeting, then the school will write to the parent and ask them to stop the behaviour causing the concern and warn them that if they do not have permission for them to enter the school premises, it may be withdrawn. If, after this behaviour continues, the parent will again be written to and informed that permission has now been withdrawn. 
  • Withdrawing permission to enter the school premises can be introduced without having to go through all the steps offered above in more serious cases.
  • Permission withdrawal will normally be limited in the first instance.
  • The Headteacher will consult the chair of governors before withdrawing permission for a parent to enter the school premises.
• Contact the appropriate authorities in cases (in the first instance referral to the Police) where the unacceptable behaviour is considered to be a serious and potentially criminal matter. This will include any or all cases of threats or violence and actual violence to any child, staff or governor in the school. This will also include anything that could be seen as a sign of harassment of any member of the school community, such as any form of insulting social media post or any form of social media cyberbullying.
• Seek advice from Liverpool City Council's legal team regarding further action in cases of conduct where evidence suggests that behaviour would be tantamount to libel or slander.

St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School, Nursery & Daycare will always respond to an incident in a proportional way. The final decision on how to respond to breaches of the code of conduct rests with the Headteacher.

What happens if a parent has a concern about their child in relation to the school?

• Initially contact the class teacher.
• If the concern remains, contact a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• If still unresolved, they should contact the Headteacher, Mrs J McCormick, prior to following the steps outlined in our Complaints Policy.