Policies

Rationale and Policy Considerations: 

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The Early Years Regulations 2016 require a policy that supports children’s positive behaviour.

To achieve this, it is essential to ensure that the emotional, social and general wellbeing of all of the children attending the service is positively supported in a happy, safe, well-planned and controlled environment.

It is important for children to be able to: relate well to other children and adults; make friends and get on with others; feel secure and valued; explore and learn confidently and feel good about themselves.

The approaches for supporting children when their behaviour is challenging, in ways that are appropriate for their age and level of development, must also be set out.

 

Policy Statement:

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This Policy Statement outlines the principles, values and the purpose of our Child Behaviour Management policy.

 

Little People’s Academy inform parents/guardians about this policy on enrolment and seek information from families about the behaviour guidance strategies they use at home.

 

We recognise that it is important to understand the expectations of parents/guardians regarding our approach to behaviour guidance in the service before children first come to our service. We do our utmost to keep open lines of communication with families on an ongoing basis. Little People’s Academy has a Key Person Policy in place to ensure daily communications between our practitioners and our families.

 

Little People’s Academy’s approach to supporting and promoting children’s positive social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing is reflective of up-to-date professional practice.

 

Our approach to supporting children with their social, emotional and behaviour skills is to ensure as far as possible that children are kept comfortable, relaxed, happy and engaged in play and other activities while the adults’ model positive ways of relating to them and each other. We recognise the need to understand children’s behaviour as a form of communication and to consider what might be triggering the behaviour and what the child is communicating. Children will be supported to learn how to express their feelings in appropriate ways and helped to learn how to deal positively with conflict.

 

The methods of dealing with challenging, unsafe or disruptive behaviour in this service will be only those that help children to develop self-regulation and are developmentally appropriate. When we work to promote positive behaviour with children, we are aware of the theory of child development. Only positive approaches to guidance are used, including logical or natural consequences applied in problem situations, redirection, anticipation of and elimination of potential problems and encouragement of appropriate behaviour.

 

Corporal punishment is prohibited as are any practices or the threat of any practices that are disrespectful, degrading, exploitative, intimidating, emotionally or physically harmful or neglectful. Children are never humiliated, segregated or have food withheld.

Staff interactions with children are aimed at promoting their well-being and development. This includes their social and emotional development. Adequate and appropriate stimulation is provided for each child and any inappropriate or challenging behaviour is dealt with sensitively and appropriately without threats or punishment.

 

While staff are aware of and respect individual children’s and families’ backgrounds and beliefs, it may sometimes be necessary to balance these with our knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and current best practice recommendations from recognised appropriate authorities, in the best interests of the child.

 

Supporting Staff:

 

Little People’s Academy ensures that support is offered to staff on behaviour management and supporting children’s emotional needs. Ways in which staff are supported are as follows,

 

• Teach staff positive guidance techniques through services policy and procedures for managing challenging behaviour

• Organise team meetings to be carried out between the staff and their line manager to discuss the behaviour and plan out going forward to help the child and their family to overcome the issues.

• Supply group or individual training to help support, e.g., reading material, online workshops, or inhouse training.

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Communication:

 

All parents/guardians are to be informed of the policy and procedures regarding behaviour management on enrolment. Staff members will check with parents that they have read and understood the policy and provide any assistance needed.

 

A summary of this policy will be included in the parent handbook.  This policy will also be reviewed with staff members at induction and annual staff training.

 

A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation to staff members and parents in the Policy Folder located in main office.

 

Parents/guardians may receive a copy of the full policy and procedures at any time upon request. 

 

Parents/guardians and all relevant staff members will receive written notification of any updates to this policy.

 

Further Information:

 

If you require more details regarding our services policies, you can contact our company’s General Manager.

 

Ratification of Policy

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Signed:   Tara Hutchinson Furey (G.M)       Date: 04th January 2022

                       (On behalf of the company Little People’s Academy)

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This policy was ratified in May 2021 and reviewed in January 2022.

Planned Review Date: January 2023