Behaviour

All children and adults are treated with equal concern and are made to feel welcome in my home. I aim to offer a quality childcare service for parents and children. I recognise the need to set out reasonable and appropriate limits to help manage the behaviour of children in my care.
 
By providing a happy, safe environment, the children in my care will be encouraged to develop social skills to help them be accepted and welcome in society as they grow up.

I do not, and will not, administer physical or any other form of punishment with the intention of causing pain or discomfort, nor any kind of humiliating or hurtful treatment to any child in my care.

I endorse positive discipline as a more effective way of setting boundaries for children.

Procedure (how I put the policy into practice)

I keep up to date with behaviour management issues and relevant legislation by taking regular training and by reading relevant publications, such as Who Minds? and Nursery World.

All parents receive and have access to a copy of my Behaviour Policy.

I agree methods to manage children’s behaviour with parents before the placement starts. These are discussed with parents during initial visits before the contract is signed to ensure appropriate care can be provided.

Wherever possible I try to meet parents’ requests for the care of their children according to their values and practices. Records of these requirements are agreed and kept attached to the child record forms. These records are revisited and updated during regular reviews with parents.

I expect parents to inform me of any changes in the child’s home circumstances, care arrangements or any other change which may affect the child’s behaviour such as a new baby, parents’ separation, divorce, new partner or any bereavement. All information shared will be kept confidential unless there appears to be a child protection issue.

I offer regular review meetings with parents to discuss their child’s care and any issues or concerns, preferably when the child is not present. If I do not share the same first language as the child’s parent, I will find a way of communicating effectively with them. This may include seeking guidance from the local Early Years team.

I work together with parents to make sure there is consistency in the way the children are cared for. A consistent approach benefits the child’s welfare and helps ensure that the child is not confused.

I will only physically intervene, and possibly restrain, a child to prevent an accident, such as a child running into the road, or to prevent an injury or damage.

All significant incidents are recorded in an incident book and will be shared and discussed with the parents of the child concerned so that together we can work to resolve any behavioural issues.

From time to time children will have difficulty learning to deal with their emotions and feelings and this is a normal part of child development. I will acknowledge these feelings and try to help children to find constructive solutions in liaison with their parents.

Distracting and re-directing children’s activities are used as a way of discouraging unwanted behaviour.

I encourage responsibility by talking to children about choices and their possible consequences.

I aim to be firm and consistent so that children know and feel secure within the boundaries I set.

I will respond positively to children who constantly seek attention or are disruptive.

I will help children maintain their self-esteem by showing I disapprove of their bad behaviour not the child themselves.

If I have concerns about a child’s behaviour which are not being resolved, I will ask for permission from the parents to talk it through with another childcare professional. I may contact the National Childminding Association, the NSPCC, health visitor or the local Early Years team (or other relevant advice service) for confidential advice. 

Concerns that could identify a particular child are kept confidential and only shared with people who need to know this information.
 

House rules
I use the house rules to encourage positive behaviour, rather than stating what children should not do. My house rules are:

• we take off our outside shoes when we go in to the house to keep the house clean
• we do not swear, call each other names, fight or deliberately hurt anyone else
• we eat and drink at the table or in the high chair to help keep the house clean and to avoid accidents
• we are kind to each other
• we take care of the toys, furniture and other equipment
• we do not have pets in the house

Children are guided away from doing things which:

• are dangerous or hurtful or offensive to someone else
• are dangerous to the child
• will make the child unwelcome or unacceptable to other people
• damage other people’s property