Positive Behaviour Policy

Promoting Positive Behaviour

 

At The Learning Cottage we believe that children flourish best when they know how they and others are expected to behave. Children gain respect through interaction with caring adults who act as good role models, show them respect and value their individual personalities. The nursery actively promotes British values and encourages and praises positive, caring and polite behaviour at all times in and provides an environment where children learn to respect themselves, other people and their surroundings.

Children need to have set boundaries of behaviour for their own safety and the safety of their peers. Within the nursery we aim to 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 that of others around them. Restrictions on the child's natural desire to explore and develop their own ideas and concepts are kept to a minimum.

We aim to:

  • Recognise the individuality of all our children and that some behaviours are normal in young children e.g. biting

  • Encourage self-discipline, consideration for each other, our surroundings and property

  • Encourage children to participate in a wide range of group activities to enable them to develop their social skills

  • Ensure that all staff act as positive role models for children

  • Encourage parents and other visitors to be positive role models and challenge any poor behaviour shown

  • Work in partnership with parents by communicating openly

  • Praise children and acknowledge their positive actions and attitudes, therefore ensuring that children see that we value and respect them

  • Encourage all staff working with children to accept their responsibility for implementing the goals in this policy and to be consistent

  • Promote non-violence and encourage children to deal with conflict peacefully

  • Provide a key person system enabling staff to build a strong and positive relationship with children and their families

  • Provide activities and stories to help children learn about accepted behaviours, including opportunities for children to contribute to decisions about accepted behaviour where age/stage appropriate

  • Have a named person who has overall responsibility for behaviour management.

The named person at each branch responsible for managing behaviour will:

  • Advise other staff on behaviour issues

  • Along with each room leader will keep up to date with legislation and research

  • Support changes to policies and procedures in the nursery

  • Access relevant sources of expertise where required and act as a central information source for all involved

  • Attend regular external training events, and ensure all staff attend relevant in-house or external training for behaviour management. Keep a record of staff attendance at this training.

Our nursery rules are concerned with safety, care and respect for each other. We keep the rules to a minimum and ensure that these are age and stage appropriate. We regularly involve children in the process of setting rules to encourage cooperation and participation and ensure children gain understanding of the expectations of behaviour relevant to them as a unique child.

Children who behave inappropriately, for example by physically abusing another child or adult e.g. biting, or through verbal bullying, are helped to talk through their actions and apologise where appropriate. We make sure that the child who has been upset is comforted and the adult will confirm that the other child's behaviour is not acceptable. We always acknowledge when a child is feeling angry or upset and that it is the behaviour that is not acceptable, not the child.

When children behave in unacceptable ways:

  • We never use or threaten to use physical punishment/corporal punishment such as smacking or shaking

  • We only use physical intervention for the purpose of averting immediate danger or personal injury to any person (including the child) or to manage a child’s behaviour if absolutely necessary. We keep a record of any occasions where physical intervention is used and inform parents on the same day, or as reasonably practicable

  • We recognise that there may be times where children may have regular occasions where they lose control and may need individual techniques to restrain them. This will only be carried out by staff who have been appropriately trained to do so. Any restraints will only be done following recommended guidance and training and only with a signed agreement from parents on when to use it. We will complete an incident form following any restraints used and notify the parents

  • We do not single out children or humiliate them in any way. Where children use unacceptable behaviour they will, wherever possible, be re-directed to alternative activities. Discussions with children will take place as to why their behaviour was not acceptable, respecting their level of understanding and maturity

  • Staff will not raise their voices (other than to keep children safe)

  • In any case of misbehaviour, we always make it clear to the child or children in question, that it is the behaviour and not the child that is unwelcome

  • We decide how to handle a particular type of behaviour depending on the child’s age, level of development and the circumstances surrounding the behaviour. This may involve asking the child to talk and think about what he/she has done. All staff support children in developing empathy and children will only be asked to apologise if they have developed strong empathy skills and have a good understanding of why saying sorry is appropriate