Behaviour Management Policy
_______________________________________
We believe that children and adults flourish best in an ordered 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 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:
– The designated practitioner for our Behaviour Management Policy , Nicky Hillman will endeavour to guide the staff to follow the Playbox Behaviour Management Policy and procedures.
– Rules governing the conduct of the group and the behaviour of the children will be discussed and
agreed within The Playbox and explained to all newcomers, both children and adults.
– All adults in The Playbox will ensure that the rules are applied consistently, so that children have the
security of knowing what to expect and can build up useful habits of behaviour.
– All adults will try to provide a positive model for the children with regard to friendliness, care and courtesy.
– Adults in The Playbox will praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness 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.
– Staff will be made aware of training and support available to assist with the management of challenging behaviour and ways to encourage positive behaviour and encouraged to undertake appropriate training.
When children behave in unacceptable ways:
– Physical punishment, such as smacking, will be neither used nor threatened.
– Physical intervention may be appropriate in certain circumstances, such as preventing an accident or injury – for example if a child is having a temper tantrum. Such incidents will be recorded as a matter of policy and parents will be asked to sign to confirm that they understand why physical restraint was used .
– Children will never be sent out of the room by themselves.
– Techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children such as a “naughty chair” will not be used.
– Unacceptable behaviour, including bullying, will not be tolerated.
Children who misbehave in such a way will be given one-to-one adult support in seeing that their actions are wrong and help them work towards a better pattern of behaviour.
Where appropriate this might be achieved by a period of “time out” with adult supervision.
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 means of explanations rather than personal blame.
In any case 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.
Recurring problems will be tackled by the whole group, in partnership with the child’s parents, using objective observation records to establish an understanding of the cause.
Adults will be aware that some kinds of behaviour may arise from a child’s special needs.
This policy was reviewed & updated at a meeting of The Playbox committee held on 24th November 2025
Signed Chairperson: Jane Sharp
