Behaviour Management Policy – Taynuilt Primary School and ELC

Behaviour management Policy

Staff involvement
This policy was drawn up in the consultation with the Head Teacher of Taynuilt Primary School and the staff of Taynuilt Pre 5 Unit.

Rationale
Children and adults flourish best in an environment in which everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or hindered by anyone else. We aim to work towards creating an environment which promotes positive behaviour so children can develop their self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.
From time to time children need adult assistance to guide them in the appropriate behaviour associated with particular activities/situations. This ensures children are given the opportunities to forge positive relationships with children and adults alike.

Purpose
This policy for behaviour management is designed to promote good behaviour, rather than merely deter anti-social behaviour. We recognise, at times, very young children are unable to regulate their own emotions, such as fear, anger or distress and require sensitive adults to help them do this. This policy is based on the following features of learning with the key aspects of Emotional, Personal and Social development, where children should be given the opportunities to:

Become aware of and respect the needs of others in their behaviour and learn to follow rules.
Form positive relationships with other children and adults and begin to develop particular friendships with other children.

Aims
Our behaviour management aims at Taynuilt Pre 5 Unit are:

To assist children in the understanding of the need for rules and the need for each child to adhere to these rules.
To assist children in encouraging and creating a bond of respect both with adults and peers.
To promote positive behaviour within the Pre 5 setting.
To constantly reassure the children that they are always valued as individuals even if their behaviour may be unacceptable. We work together to solve any problems.
To help children grow in a safe and secure environment, and to become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the nursery community.
To reward good behaviour as it believes that this will develop at ethos of kindness and cooperation.

Principles
This establishments behaviour management procedures adhere to the following principles:

Adult intervention in a behavioural issue should always be positive and supportive with the key focus on guidance.
Children should be allowed to make mistakes in behaviour, be guided, learn from the mistake and move on.
Children should be given the opportunity to learn the importance of rules and how they should be followed.
Intervention by the Head Teacher and/or parent, comes only as a last resort.

Procedures
This establishment will strive to achieve our aims by:

Rules governing the conduct of the group and behaviour of the children will be discussed and agreed by all staff and explained to newcomers, both children and adults.
All adults at the nursery will ensure that the rules are applied and reminded to the children so that they have the security of knowing what to expect.
All adults will try to provide a positive role model for the children with regard to friendliness, care and courtesy.
Adults in the nursery will praise and endorse positive behaviour such as kindness, good manners and willingness to share.
Staff will take positive steps to avoid a situation in which children receive adult attention only in return for undesirable behaviour.

When children behave in unacceptable ways:

Physical punishment, such as smacking or shaking will neither be used nor threatened. Gentle restraints may be used if a member of staff feels that the child was a danger to themselves or others. The parents would be informed of this action at the end of the session.
If a child is having a temper tantrum and shows no sign of harming themselves or others or the Pre 5 environment, staff will give the child space and time to calm down and then talk to the child when they are in a calmer mood and more open to discussion.
Techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children such as the ‘naughty chair’ will not be used.
Children who misbehave will be given one-to-one adult support in seeing what was wrong and working towards an improved pattern. The parents/carers are informed about the behaviour at the end of the session.
We always encourage children to say sorry and to treat others like they would like to be treated.
If a child smacks or hurts another child or adult, a member of staff will explain to the child what they have done is wrong and why it is wrong and may possibly remove them from the situation.
If a child is displaying any other forms of inappropriate behaviour with the risk of hurting themselves or others around them or the Pre 5 environment then they will be told three times that this action is inappropriate before being removed from the situation if need be.
In cases of serious misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes will be made clear immediately, but by the means of explanation.
In any cases of misbehaviour, it will always be made clear to the child in question that it is the behaviour and not the child that is unwelcome.
Adults will not shout, or raise their voices in a threatening way.
Any behaviour problems will be handled in a developmentally appropriate fashion, respecting individual children’s level of understanding and maturity.
Recurring problems will be tackled by the whole staff, in partnership with the child’s parents, using objective observations to establish an understanding of the cause.
Adults will be aware that some kinds of behaviour may arise from a child’s additional needs and they will be given one to one support and work together to resolve behaviour issues.
Staff should try to involve parents to promote and reinforce positive behaviour.
A reward system may be used to help, e.g. Using stickers, well done tree
Staff will concentrate on the positive behaviour and use praise to reinforce good behaviour.
Keep parents informed when a child has been good and build on this positive image with child and parent.
The Pre 5 Unit may work alongside outside agencies with individual children and their families to support the child’s behaviour and concerns.

Monitoring and Review
It is the responsibility of the Head Teacher along with the Pre 5 staff to monitor, evaluate and review the above arrangements and effectiveness of this policy and adjust them according to need.