Wise Owls Childcare is committed to providing a caring environment for children in which their welfare and safety is paramount. We encourage and nurture their enjoyment and development, and we are consistently positive, patient and friendly in our approach towards all children in our care.
This policy aims to support this commitment and sets out our approach to managing behaviour in our settings by providing details on our behaviour principles, aims and strategies. We provide information on the role of our staff and managers in managing behaviour and explain the role Parents and Carers play in supporting this.
We will always endeavour to work closely with Parents and Carers to resolve any behaviour challenges that arise; however, this policy explains the sanctions we may implement if behaviour challenges become unsustainable.
Staff should always encourage Parents/Carers and children to raise any concerns they have about behaviour with staff or the manager at the earliest opportunity.
RAID stands for Reinforce Appropriate, Implode Disruptive. Click to read more.
Zones of regulation can be helpful for providing continuity of care and regular check ins on children’s feelings. Click to read more.
Active listening. Restorative Questions. Behaviour as Communication. Click to read more.
Wise Owls recognises that challenging behaviour often falls into one of the following categories:
Disengaged behaviour may indicate that a child is bored, unsettled or unhappy. Staff will take steps to understand the reasons for the child’s disengagement and to improve engagement. Some signs may include: Withdrawn, Overly quiet, Becomes lethargic, May start to disrupt others, Seems bored, Lacks enthusiasm, May self-harm or demonstrate other mental health concerns, May be ostracised by others, Unresponsive to efforts to include them
Disruptive behaviour describes a child whose behaviour prevents or restricts other children enjoying themselves. Staff will collectively discuss incidents of disruptive behaviour and agree on the best way to deal with them. Shouting, Knocking things over to prevent play, Try to drag other children away, Pushes others away when they try to play together or join in, Running off, Doesn’t listen to staff or other children, Does not respect boundaries
Unacceptable behaviour refers to non-negotiable actions such as discriminatory remarks, violence and bullying. Staff will be clear that consequences will follow such behaviour, including temporarily removing a child from the activity. When challenging behaviour occurs, staff will ask the child/children involved to explain the reasons for their actions. Staff will explain to the child/children why their behaviour was disruptive, challenging or unacceptable and will discuss the impact and consequences on them and on others. Staff will make every effort to ensure that children understand what is being explained to them. Children will always be given the opportunity to make amends for challenging or disruptive behaviour and, unless it is judged inappropriate to do so, will be able to rejoin the activity. In the event that unacceptable or disruptive behaviour persists, or takes the form of violence, discriminatory remarks, or anything that endangers the health and safety of children or staff, more serious action may need to be taken. At all times children will have explained to them the potential consequences of their actions.
Staff will only use physical intervention as a last resort and only then if they have reasonable grounds for believing that immediate action is necessary to prevent a child from significantly injuring themselves or others, or to prevent serious damage to property.
A dialogue will be maintained with the child/children so that the member of staff can explain any action they are taking and why. Staff will make every effort to avoid the use of physical interventions if they are alone with the child/children.
Only the minimum force necessary to prevent injury or damage will be applied. For example, diverting a child by leading them away by a hand or by an arm around their shoulder. Staff will use physical intervention as an act of care and safety, and never as punishment. As soon as it is safe to do so, the physical intervention will be relaxed and the child allowed to regain their own self-control. The intensity of the physical intervention will always be appropriate to the age, size and strength of the children involved. Violent behaviour that needs to be restrained must be escalated to Head Office.
Where a member of staff has had cause to physically intervene to restrain a child, the Manager must be notified and the incident recorded on an incident form. The incident will be discussed with the Parent/Carer at the earliest possible opportunity.
Consideration will be given to contacting the Director, and, in extreme situations, the police may be called. An incident form will be completed wherever the use of physical intervention has been necessary. Should a member of staff not feel completely confident in their ability to contain a particular situation or type of behaviour, they will be assisted in the first instance by the Manager.
If a staff member is alleged to have committed any act of violence or abuse towards a child at the club, the matter will be investigated, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with our Staff Disciplinary and Safeguarding Procedures. We will also notify any relevant authorities.
Wise Owls are committed to providing an environment for children that is safe, welcoming and free from bullying.
Bullying is a very serious offence and is not tolerated, or excused, in any form at Wise Owls, whether the offender be a child or an adult. The victim is never responsible for being the target of bullying.
Wise Owls defines bullying as deliberately hurtful behaviour repeated often over a period of time.
It can come in many forms including but not limited to:
The Manager and staff will make every effort to create a warm and caring environment where it is made evident and clear that bullying is not acceptable behaviour. Everyone involved including staff, children and Parents/Carers will be made aware of this stance towards bullying. Such behaviour will not be tolerated or excused under any circumstances.
Staff will discuss the matter of bullying openly with children and Parents/Carers including why bullying behaviour will not be tolerated and what the consequences of bullying behaviour would be. Children are made aware that they can and should talk to staff if they feel they are victim of or have witnessed bullying.
Despite all efforts to prevent it, bullying behaviour can still occur on occasion and the following is in place should bullying be witnessed or reported:
Although Wise Owls is committed to dealing with challenging behaviour in a positive and constructive manner and working together with children, parents and carers to resolve, there may be occasions when our strategies do not alter, prevent or moderate challenging behaviour. In such cases further action will be necessary, including reviewing a child’s place at Wise Owls, either on a temporary, partial, or a permanent basis.
Details of all incidents of challenging behaviour are recorded on our incident form and each incident discussed verbally with both the child concerned and their Parents/Carers. All staff will be made aware of any incidents concerning a child.
If a pattern of challenging behaviour incidents develops, and there is a persistent, noticeable or sudden increase in incident frequency, or, if incidents become more concerning in nature, we will create a report card for the child in question and behaviour will be closely monitored for one month. Parents/Carers will be informed that their child has been placed on report and will be regularly updated on progress.
If, after one month on report there is little or no behaviour improvement, Head Office will be informed, and they will contact Parents/Carers directly regarding the behaviour.
Staff will consult with the Manager as early as possible if they believe that a child’s behaviour may warrant suspension or exclusion.
In line with our terms and conditions, as a last resort, and only in the following circumstances, the setting has the right to temporarily suspend, or permanently exclude a child, with immediate effect:
In such circumstances the child’s Parent/Carer may be contacted without delay and asked to collect their child immediately.
Where a child has been immediately suspended the Manager will arrange a meeting with the child and their Parents/Carers to discuss the incident and to decide if it will be possible for them to return to the setting.
Suspensions and exclusions will be consistent, fair and proportionate to the behaviour concerned. Consideration will be given to the child’s age and maturity and any other relevant information about their situation when deciding on the level of sanction.
Should it be agreed that any suspension is to be lifted, and prior to a child returning to the setting, a discussion will be held between staff, the child, and their Parents/Carers and the conditions of their return will be set out.
1. The escalation of matters by settings to Head Office, or the imposing of sanctions, immediate or otherwise, will be based on the continual monitoring of behaviour in our setting and a thorough assessment of:
2. Continued challenging or disruptive behaviour will lead to the introduction of a report card which will be used to closely monitor behaviour for the period of 1 month. Parents/Carers will be informed of this sanction, and staff will continue to manage challenging behaviour with all possible supportive strategies and update Parents/Carers regularly on progress
3. If, after 1 month on report, there continue to be challenging or disruptive behaviour incidents, and strategies to effectively manage those behaviours have been exhausted, as a very last resort, the setting has the right to suspend or partially or permanently exclude a child
4. Serious, violent, or health and safety incidents will be dealt with immediately and Parents/Carers contacted as a matter of urgency, and they will be required to collect their child immediately
5. In the event of serious behaviour that takes the form of violence, discriminatory remarks, or anything that endangers the health and safety of children or staff, the setting has the right to temporarily suspend, or to permanently exclude a child with immediate effect
6. All suspensions whether temporary, partial or permanent, may apply to one or more of or to all Wise Owls settings, and will depend on a thorough assessment of the circumstances.
You will find this policy and more resources in your Behaviour Management Toolkit on Sharepoint.
Please complete the following form to confirm that you have read and will adhere to the Behaviour Management Policy.