Mr Alex Moffat is Principal Teacher, Pupil Support with responsibility for coordinating support for those pupils who experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties either on a short or long term basis.

The primary aim of Behaviour Support is to assist pupils in their attempts to modify their behaviour and attitudes and thus integrate successfully into mainstream classes.

Towards this aim, Behaviour Support staff will provide programmes for pupils in a positive and supportive environment, in which staff will endeavour:

Ø      To promote self esteem

Ø      To offer support and counselling

Ø      Employ a range of interventionist strategies

Ø      To assist staff in the development of appropriate strategies

Ø      To maintain pupils in mainstream where appropriate

Ø      To enable pupils to employ coping strategies and to function independently in school, at  home and in the community.

Ø      To provide and negotiate pupil targets which are attainable and relevant.

Ø      To monitor progress of the above and liaise and report to parents, staff and outside agencies.

Ø      In line with the school aims, offer pupils a fair, honest, realistic, caring and empathetic approach.

Staff work closely with many external agencies in the wider community, on occasions planning and coordinating alternative part-time / full-time curricular provision for some pupils.

Within the school, Behaviour Support works towards facilitating the Education Authority’s recommendations contained in the Behaviour Matters document (2003), which was the Dumfries and Galloway response to the national publication, “Better Behaviour, Better Learning” (2001).