At Aberdeen School for the Deaf, senior leaders have promoted positive relationships. They have created a nurturing environment in the school.

The school has a unique context, where each deaf learner learns within a deaf-specific class. They also learn in a mainstream primary class within Sunnybank Primary, which is a shared campus school. The emphasis on preventative practice has helped to promote an anti-bullying culture.

What the school did

Senior leaders have created an inclusive ethos, strong school values, and a shared understanding that all behaviour is communication.

Building effective partnerships

They have co-created, with their school community, a set of values that reflect the unique features of the school and the needs of children. The values are:

• respect
• resilience
• inclusion
• responsibility
• aspiration

These values inform respectful interactions between children, their peers, and staff.

Involving children and young people

The school values form the basis for assemblies and guide approaches to positive relationships. They provide the foundation of restorative conversations and inform the deaf education curriculum.

Restorative approaches and the school’s values inform approaches when there is a need for relationship support. It is understood that it is the chosen communication that is at fault, not the person.

Anti-bullying curriculum

Senior leaders ensure that the curriculum supports children’s understanding of bullying behaviour. Staff understand that some bullying behaviour may arise from barriers in communication.

Sunnybank School has adopted British Sign Language (BSL) into their 1+2 Programme. This will help their learners better communicate with their peers. This is supporting inclusion throughout the day, including during social times.

The HWB curriculum supports children to develop a better understanding of themselves. They have a good understanding of their deaf identity and feel confident asking for help when they need it. This increases learners’ awareness of protected characteristics. It helps them understand how these apply to their own, individual circumstances.

The impact and what changed for children and young people

Children are developing the assertiveness to call out behaviour that is unacceptable. As a result, the school now has a very few instances of bullying.

The adoption of a values-based approach provides a strong foundation and common language across the campus. Children report that staff will address bullying when they see it happening in school.

Children understand that respect is a two-way process and are more tolerant and understanding of others. This includes improvements to how young people communicate. This has a positive effect on relationships among learners as well as between learners and staff.

Children show a good understanding of the school’s values, both in English and BSL. They are increasingly able to link their successes and achievements to the school values. They can name which value has been overlooked in instances of a breakdown in communication or relationships.