Anger Management Classes For Kids As Young As 5 As School Excludes 40 Pupils

Anger Management Classes For Kids As Young As 5 As School Excludes 40 Pupils
|

Rex

A school has been forced to offer anger management lessons to children as young as five after 40 children were excluded for bad behaviour, according to a report.

The moves comes after Ofsted inspectors labelled conduct at Hillcrest Primary School, in the run-down Leeds suburb of Chapeltown, unacceptable.

Headteacher Teena Thomson said: "We are obviously all disappointed that the Ofsted team did not feel that Hillcrest has made adequate progress. We were, however, pleased by the acknowledgement of the positive actions being taken, particularly in improving behaviour."

Now psychologists and other mental health professionals have been drafted in to help pupils at the West Yorkshire school.

A total of 40 pupils were excluded in just one year. The school is now receiving the highest level of "behaviour support" from Leeds City Council - the only school in the city to do so.

In the latest Ofsted report, inspectors point to some progress but say more needs to be done.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, inspector John Young said:"The deputy headteacher overseeing this aspect has a good understanding of potential flashpoints.

"Some pupils are taught in 'nurture' groups while others receive counselling in anger management and improving social skills.

"Joint working with a learning support unit and an educational psychologist is helping the school to break the cycle of poor behaviour some pupils have fallen into."

This month's Ofsted report also criticises achievement and teaching at the 429-pupil school. However, in the 17 months since its last inspection, the school was said to have failed to have made sufficient progress.

Nigel Richardson, director of children's services at Leeds City Council, said: "Hillcrest has been facing a number of challenges. "We have put in place expertise from within Leeds and a number of other initiatives to ensure that the necessary improvements are made."