Sunrise Nursery recognises the importance of positive and effective behaviour management strategies in promoting children’s welfare, learning and enjoyment.
The aims of our Behaviour Management policy are to help children to:
• Develop a sense of caring and respect for one another.
• Build caring and co-operative relationships with other children and adults.
• Develop a range of social skills and help them learn what constitutes acceptable behaviour.
• Develop confidence, self discipline and self esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.
Behaviour Management Strategies
Sunrise Nursery, the Manager and the staff team will manage behaviour according to clear, consistent and positive strategies. Parents and carers are encouraged to contribute to these strategies, raising any concerns or suggestions. Behaviour management in the Nursery will be structured around the following principles.
Staff and children will work together to establish a clear set of ‘ground rules’ governing all behaviour in the Nursery. These rules will apply equally to all children and staff. Positive behaviour will be reinforced with praise and encouragement. Negative behaviour will be challenged in a calm but assertive manner. In the first instance, staff will try to re-direct children’s energies by offering them alternative and positive options. Staff will be open in stating and explaining non-negotiable issues. When dealing with negative behaviour, staff will always communicate in a clear, calm and positive manner. Staff will make every effort to set a positive example to children by behaving in a friendly and tolerant manner themselves, promoting an atmosphere where children and adults respect and value one another> Staff will not shout at work. Staff will facilitate regular and open discussions with children about their behaviour. This will help them to understand the negative aspects of their behaviour and enable them to have their say and be helped to think through the causes and effects of their actions. Staff will work as a team by discussing incidents and resolving to act collectively and consistently. Staff will try to discuss concerns with parents and carers at the earliest possible opportunity in an attempt to help identify the causes of negative behaviour and share strategies for dealing with it.
Children who experience bullying, racism or other unacceptable behaviour will be given the confidence to speak out. Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try to resolve conflicts by discussion and negotiation. Activities will be varied, well planned and structured, so that children are not easily bored or distracted.
Dealing with Negative Behaviour
When confronted with negative behaviour, staff will be clear to distinguish between ‘disengaged’, ‘disruptive’ and ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.
‘Disengaged’ behaviour may indicate that a child is bored, unsettled or unhappy. With sensitive interventions, staff will often be able to re-engage a child in purposeful activity.
‘Disruptive’ behaviour describes a child whose behaviour prevents other children from enjoying themselves. Staff will collectively discuss incidents and agree on the best way to deal with them.
‘Unacceptable’ behaviour refers to non-negotiable actions and may include discriminatory remarks, violence, bullying or destruction of equipment. Staff will be clear that consequences will follow from such behaviour, including in the first instance, temporarily removing a child from the activity session.