BEHAVIOUR POLICY

From time to time Children and young people present challenging behaviour, violent or aggressive tendencies which need to be fully documented in learner’s individual learning plan. For the purposes of this policy, challenging behaviours includes self-harm, self-neglect, self-abuse, or harm to others. If challenging behaviour, violent or aggressive tendencies are present then a full and robust risk assessment must be undertaken to protect not just the Children and young people, but the staff as well.

1. Encourage all children to develop positive self - esteem

2. Develop the child within a moral, spiritual, and cultural context

3. Have a ‘moral code’ which considers the basic values of honesty, fairness, and politeness

4. Actively promote respect for each other through good behaviour and anti-bullying and for our environment and our resources

5. Providing a happy, secure environment, where children are encouraged to develop social skills to help them be accepted and welcome in society as they grow up.

6. We will set these boundaries in a way, which helps the child to develop a sense of the significance of their own behaviour, both on their own environment and those around them.

1. Any sanctions applied in the case of inappropriate behaviour must take account of the age and stage of development of the child, be relevant to the action or actions and be fair.

2. Appropriate strategies used, depending on the age, developmental stage, and individual needs of the child.

3. Providing positive attention by, listening, and talking to the child.

4. Providing activities and learning experiences that help children to develop safe ways of dealing with anger and other strong feelings.

5. Explaining and maintaining clear, reasonable, and consistent limits so that children can feel safe and secure in their play and other activities.

6. Reducing incidents of frustration and conflict by allowing routines flexible so that the child can pursue their interests.

7. Affirming and praising positive behaviour. Using praise helps to show that we value the child as it helps to build their self-esteem and self-confidence.

8. Ignoring inappropriate behaviour if it is not harming them, others, or property.

9. Distracting the child, to encourage positive behaviour.

10. Information sharing with parents and/or carers and with their consent shared with other settings caring for the child. This will ensure a consistent approach which benefits the child.

11. Take a consistent approach to challenging behaviour such as hitting or punching.

12. Challenging the behaviour, not the child.

13. How a behaviour is handled will depend on the child and the circumstances. It may involve the child being asked to talk and think about what he/she has done.

14. The child will also be asked to see if the child/person who was hurt is all right and to demonstrate that they are sorry.

15. Children who behave inappropriately by physically abusing another child or adult or by verbally bullying may be removed from the group. The child who is upset will be comforted and the adult will confirm that the other child’s behaviour is not acceptable. It is important to acknowledge that a child is feeling angry or upset and that it is the behaviour we are rejecting, not the child.

16. In extreme cases the child will be removed from the room until he/she has calmed down and had time to reflect on his/her behaviour.

17. Children need to develop non-aggressive strategies to enable them to stand up for themselves so that adults and children listen to them. They need to be given opportunities to release their feelings more creatively.

18. Children need their own time and space. It is not always appropriate to expect a child to share and it is important to acknowledge children’s feelings and to help them understand how others might be feeling.

Hofts Childcare, the Management and the staff will manage behaviour according to clear, consistent and positive strategies. Parents/carers are encouraged to contribute to these strategies, raising any concerns or suggestions.

1. Staff should be aware of potentially dangerous situations and prevent these by explaining quietly and calmly to the child or group of children the effects of their actions.

2. Helping children to learn and understand how to manage their feelings. By supporting their emotions and feelings. When children know that their feelings are acknowledged they learn to express them, confident that we will help them with how they are feeling.

3. Helping children understand how to behave outdoors and inside by talking about personal safety, risks and the safety of others.

4. Intervening if comments/behaviour is racist, sexist or in any way offensive, unsafe, violent or bullying.

5. Being a positive role model. Children learn values and behaviour from adults.

6. We want children to recognise that certain actions are right and that others are wrong. By positively promoting good behaviour, valuing co-operation and a caring attitude we hope to ensure that children will develop as responsible members of society.

7. Children must be encouraged to recognise that bullying, fighting, hurting and racist comments are not acceptable behaviour. We want children to recognise that certain actions are right and that others are wrong.

8. In this way children will begin to understand what is and isn’t acceptable and take responsibility for their own actions. Staff should always avoid shouting or raising their voice.

9. Staff and children will work together to establish a clear set of ‘ground rules’ governing all behaviour in the centre. These will be periodically reviewed so that new children have a say in how the rules of the Centre operate. Parents/ carers will also have access to the Centre’s Ground Rules to encourage unity and consistency

10. ‘Ground rules’ will apply equally to all children, staff and parent/ carers

11. ‘Ground rules’ will be put on display in view of the children, staff and parent/carers

12. Positive behaviour will be reinforced with praise and encouragement

13. Challenging behaviour will be addressed in a calm but assertive manner. In the first instance, staff will try to re-direct children’s energies by offering them alternative and positive options. Staff will be open in stating and explaining non-negotiable issues.

14. When dealing with challenging behaviour, staff will always communicate in a clear, calm and positive manner. For those children who need support to behave in an appropriate manner, staff will investigate strategies and offer consistent care whilst at the club

15. Staff and parent/ carers will make every effort to set a positive example to children by behaving in a friendly and tolerant manner themselves, promoting an atmosphere where children and adults respect and value one another

16. Staff and parent/ carers will avoid shouting in the centres, unless it is required to stop unsafe, unwanted behaviour immediately.

17. Staff will facilitate regular and open discussions with children about their behaviour. This will help them to understand the inappropriate aspects of their behaviour and enable them to have their say and be helped to think through the causes and effects of their actions

18. Staff will work as a team by discussing incidents and resolving to act collectively and consistently

19. Staff will try to discuss concerns confidentially with parents/carers at the earliest possible opportunity to help identify the causes of inappropriate behaviour and share strategies for dealing with it. Children who experience bullying, racism or other unacceptable behaviour will be given the confidence to speak out

20. Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try to resolve conflicts by discussion and negotiation.

1. We will ensure that the parents/carers are fully informed about and support the actions being taken to modify the child’s unacceptable behaviour. However, it may be necessary to use restraining action in an emergency to prevent personal injury or serious damage to property.

2. Parents will be informed if their child is persistently displaying inappropriate behaviour towards others or if their child has been upset. Parents may be asked to meet with staff to discuss their child’s behaviour, so that if there are any difficulties, we can work together to ensure consistency between home and Hofts Childcare.

3. In some cases, we may request additional advice and support from other professionals, along with focused observations on the child.

Hofts Childcare policy is aimed at creating a dialogue between children, families, and ourselves. Parents/carers should feel free to discuss any concerns they may have with the manager. All matters will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Parents need to be alerted to potential cases of bullying and appropriate support put in place, either here at Hofts Childcare or by signposting to other agencies where appropriate to do so. 

With regard to children with special needs relating to behaviour problems, we will adopt procedures from the SEN Code of Practice working closely with parents, and any relevant outside agencies. Parents will be given copy of our policy and strategies for dealing with behaviour which emphasises the positive aspects of the child rather than focusing on the negative.

Definition of physical intervention (previously defined as physical restraint):

Physical restraint is the positive application of force with the intention of controlling the child behaviour to protect him/her from harming themselves or others or seriously damaging property.

Physical intervention must only be used as a last resort when other strategies have failed. It Must serve to de-escalate or prevent a violent or potentially violent situation.

Hofts Childcare adopts the London borough of Enfield policy for schools, nurseries, and Children’s centres on the use of physical intervention.

A dialogue will always be maintained with the child or children, so that the member of staff can explain what they are doing and why they are doing it. Staff will make every effort to avoid the use of physical interventions if they are alone with the child or children. Only the minimum force necessary to prevent injury or damage should be applied. For example, by diverting a child or children by leading them away by a hand or by an arm around their shoulders.

Staff will use physical intervention as an act of care and control and never punishment. Physical interventions will not be used purely to force a child to do what they have been told and when there is no immediate risk to people or property.

As soon as it is safe, the physical intervention should be gradually relaxed to allow the child or children to regain self-control.

The force of the physical intervention will be always appropriate to the age, size and strength of the child or children involved.

If staff are not confident about their ability to contain a particular situation or type of behaviour, consideration will be given to calling the Supervisor or, in extreme cases, the police.

Where a member of staff has had to intervene physically to restrain a child, the Supervisor will be notified and the incident recorded in the Incident Record Book. The incident will be discussed with the parent/carer at the earliest possible opportunity.

If a staff member commits any act of violence or abuse towards a child at the Club, serious disciplinary action will be implemented, according to the provisions of the Staff Disciplinary Procedures Policy.

Hofts Childcare is aware of the borough’s anti bullying policy.