We believe that children flourish best in a safe and secure environment in which everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their play and learning.  We aim to work towards a situation in which children can develop self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

In order to achieve this:

• We have developed project rules and behaviour codes and the behaviour of the children will be discussed at regular intervals within the project and written copies of the rules and codes will be given to all new children and adults.

• All adults in the Schools Out Clubs will ensure that the to help identify a cause. rules are applied consistently, so that children have the security of knowing what to expect and can build up useful habits of behaviour.

• If relevant and appropriate, the views of the children relating to their behaviour should be sought and considered

• All adults will try to provide a positive model for the children with regards to friendliness, care and courtesy.

• Adults in the Schools Out Clubs will praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness and willingness to share.

• We will take positive steps to avoid a situation in which children receive adult attention only in return for undesirable behaviour.

• All incidents and intervention relating to unwanted and challenging behaviour by children should be clearly and appropriately recorded.

When children behave in unacceptable ways:                                                               

• It will always be made clear to the child or children in question that it is the behaviour and not the child that is unwelcome.

• Children should never be labelled, criticised, humiliated, punished, shouted at or isolated by removing them from group and left alone in ‘time-out’ or on a ‘naughty chair’. However, if necessary children can be accompanied and removed from the group in order to calm down and if appropriate helped to reflect on what has happened.

• Children who misbehave will be given one-to-one adult support appropriate to age, in seeing what was wrong and working towards a better pattern.

• Any behaviour problems will be handled in a developmentally appropriate way, respecting individual children’s level of understanding and maturity.

• Staff should not use physical intervention-or threat of physical intervention, to manage a child’s behaviour unless it is necessary in order to prevent children from injuring themselves or others or damage to property.

• If ‘reasonable force’ has been used for any reason, parents are informed on the same day that it occurs. The intervention will be recorded as soon as possible in the child’s file, which states clearly when and how parents were informed.

• Corporal (physical) punishment of any kind should never be used or threatened.

• In cases of serious misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, unacceptability of the behaviour and attitude will be made clear immediately, but by means of explanations rather than personal blame.

• Recurring problems will be tackled by the project, in partnership with the child’s parents.

• In cases of bullying refer to the bullying policy.

Challenging unwanted behaviour from adults

• We will not tolerate behaviour from adults which demonstrates a dislike, prejudice or/and discriminatory attitude or actions towards any individual or group. This includes negativity towards groups and individuals living outside the UK (xenophobia). This also applies to the same behaviour if made towards specific groups of people and individuals who are British Citizens residing in the UK.

• Allegations of discriminatory remarks or behaviour including xenophobia made in a club by an adult will be taken seriously. The perpetrator will be asked to stop the behaviour and failure to do so may result in the adult being asked to leave the premises and in the case of a staff member, disciplinary measures being taken.

• Where a parent makes discriminatory or prejudice remarks to staff at any time, or other person while on the premises, this is recorded on the child’s file and reported to the centre manager. The procedure is explained and the parent asked to comply while on the premises. The second stage comprises a letter to the parent requesting them to sign a written agreement not to make discriminatory remarks or behaviour in discriminatory or prejudice ways; the third stage may be considering withdrawing the child’s place.