Behaviour Policy
Good behaviour is important to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all the children I care for. Good behaviour has a positive impact on a child’s learning and development and promotes a happy and healthy environment for everyone. My focus is to promote positive behaviour, as often this is enough to deter any challenging behaviours from emerging. I will promote positive behaviours using a variety of methods effective to each child:
- Praising good behaviour, pointing out exactly what the child is doing right
- Using incentives such as time to play with a favourite toy, stickers, or choosing the next activity.
- Giving lots of individual time and attention so that children feel valued and listened to
- Using a sticker or smiley face chart to reward good behaviours
- Acting as a good role model to children
- Explaining things to children in a way that they can understand, using visual aids such as photos and symbols as required.
- Understanding children’s needs so that I can respond to a child who may be feeling tired, unwell, etc.
- Having clear and consistent rules and boundaries so children know what is acceptable
- Having realistic expectations of children
I will never use physical punishment or the threat of physical punishment to manage a child’s behaviour. I will not humiliate a child or label a child with negative descriptions such as naughty. I will help each child to see that it is their behaviour and not themselves that is unwelcome.
I will discuss any behaviour issues with parents/ carers, or if this is not possible I will give a telephone call or send a note home. I will inform you so that you are aware of what has happened and can look out for similar behaviours at home, I will not expect you to deal with the behaviour again at home as this may be several hours later. We can also agree a behaviour management strategy so we are both being consistent. If we are working together to manage children’s behaviour this will be easier for both of us.
When a child’s behaviour is causing harm or unhappiness to others, or is having an impact on their own learning and development I will ask your permission to seek advice from other professionals. This may include referral to the early years inclusion team if necessary. I reserve the right to terminate your contract if your child’s behaviour is hurting or harming others and you are not willing to work co-operatively to overcome this.