This policy represents the agreed principles for behaviour and discipline throughout the Nursery. All Nursery staff, representing Buttercups Nursery School has agreed this policy.
Aims and expectations
It is the primary aim of Buttercups Nursery that every member of the Nursery feels valued and respected, and that each person is treated fairly and well. We are a caring community, whose values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. The Nursery’s behaviour policy is therefore designed to support the way in which all members of the Nursery can live and work together in a supportive way. It seeks to promote an environment where everyone feels happy, safe and secure and to support the key aims outlined below.
At Buttercups Nursery School we believe that children and adults flourish best in an ordered environment 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, where their respect for others to ensure everyone knows what is expected of them and children are free to develop their learning in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. Zoe Walters is the named practitioner responsible for behaviour management issues.
In order to achieve this at Buttercups Nursery
Different ways of dealing with unfriendly behaviour are used and this is regularly discussed and agreed within the Nursery school, and explained to all newcomers, both children and adults. The implantation of “high five” rules was implemented from the children’s suggestions
1. Listening ears
2. Walking feet
3. Quiet voices (not shouting)
4. Sharing
- Making friends
- Appropriate methods are implemented to manage children’s behaviour including distraction, praise and reward and excellent nursery- home links. Children will never be sent out of the room by themselves.
- Children who display inappropriate behaviour will be given one-to-one adult support in understanding the reasons behind their behaviour and how to work towards a better pattern of behaviour. Children will be made aware that it is the behaviour which is unacceptable not the child, using emotion resources, all emotions are ok (see reflective time summary).
- Stories, puppets, discussion about emotions and feelings including Activities and stories that help support children to recognise feelings and empathise with characters and events. Additional resources for children who have oral stimulation needs, such as, biting rings. Vigilant staff that know the children well and are able to identify where children need more stimulation or quiet times. Adequate resources are provided and, where possible, more than one resource or toy is sought to minimise conflicts.
- All adults caring for children in Buttercups Nursery will ensure that the ideas of the nursery are applied consistently, so those children have the security of knowing what to expect and can build up useful habits of behaviour. It has to be remembered that we are not born knowing how to share and play co-operatively and the children need not only to be told but also to learn by example.
- In case of serious behaviour such as bullying, 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. This would be explained to parents at the end of the session.
- All adults will be a positive role model for children with regard to friendliness, care and courtesy. We praise the children constantly for positive behaviour. The Nursery expects every member of their community to behave in a considerate way towards others.
- In any case of misbehaviour, it will always be made clear to the child or children in question it is that the behaviour and not the child that is unwelcome.
- Adults in the Nursery will praise and endorse desirable behaviour such as kindness and willingness to share. The nursery uses reward stickers for good/kind behaviour.
- Adults will not raise their voice in a threatening way. As a team we will take positive steps to avoid a situation in which children receive adult attention only in return for undesirable behaviour.
- Adults in the Nursery school will make themselves aware of, and respect, a range of cultural expectations regarding interactions between people.
When children behave in unacceptable ways:
Any problems will be handled in a developmentally appropriate fashion, respecting individual children’s level of understanding and maturity. If a child smacks or hurts another child or adult, a member of staff will explain to the child what they have done wrong and remove them from the situation. If a child is displaying any other forms of inappropriate behaviour with the risk of hurting themselves, others around them or the Nursery environment. We will follow the same guidance as stated previously.
Recurring problems will be tackled by the whole Nursery, in partnership with children and parents using objective observations to establish an understanding of the cause and under guidance on the nursery manager.
Techniques intended to single out and humiliate individual children such as a ‘naughty chair’ will not be used.
Adults will be aware that some kinds of behaviour may arise from a special need; to support this practitioners may implement an individual education plan (IEP), sourced from outside professionals also known as an assess, plan, do, review and they will be given one to one support and work together to resolve behaviour issues.
Parents and carers will be told at the end of the session if their child has hurt another child or it has been necessary to have a ‘reflective’ time. An incident form will also be produced for the parent/carer to sign.
Children will be constantly reassured that they are always valued as individuals even if their behaviour may be unacceptable. We work together to solve any problems.
Physical punishment such as smacking or shaking will never be used nor threatened.
If a child is having a temper tantrum or if a member of staff felt that the child was in danger the child would be held carefully and moved to the quiet corner within the nursery to ensure no harm is done to themselves or others where a member of staff would sit alongside them. The parents would be informed of this action at the end of the session and an incident form will be completed by both the staff member and parent/carer. If necessary, parents may be called to collect their child should the behaviour escalate.
This policy aims to help children grow in a safe and secure environment, and to become positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the Nursery community.
The nursery rewards good behaviour, as it believes that this will develop an ethos of kindness and cooperation.
This policy is designed to promote good behaviour, rather than merely deter anti-social behaviour. The word ‘naughty’ will not be used at all by staff within the nursery setting.
The role of parents
The Nursery collaborates actively with parents, so that children receive consistent messages about how to behave at home and at school.
Monitoring and review
The Nursery managers monitor the effectiveness of this policy on a regular basis and reports to the team on the effectiveness of the policy and, if necessary, make recommendations for further improvements.
The Nursery keeps a record concerning individual incidents of misbehaviour for key children. The nursery teachers record minor incidents. The team record those incidents in on a ABBC Chart when a child is showing repetitive signs of negative behaviour. This is then shared daily with the child’s parents.
Exclusion Policy
It is the general policy of Buttercups to consider exclusion of a child only as a last resort and one that should be avoided by all practical means. However, under certain circumstances, the exclusion of a child may be the only option open to the Nursery.
Exclusion may be considered in one or more of the following circumstances:
- A child exhibits repeated violent and/or uncontrollable behaviour
- A child persistently directs abusive or threatening language towards either a member of staff or to another child
- Persistent asocial behaviour or problems of an indefinable nature
- The child through his/her behaviour is perceived to represent a physical risk to him/herself, to other children or to members of the preschool staff
If a child is temporarily excluded fees will be suspended for the duration of the exclusion period. Permanent termination will be as a last resort, with the decision reached by both the Childcare Manager and the Business Manager. The Parent will receive one week written notice, issued by the Childcare Manager, informing of the child’s last day, the reasons explained, details of any fees due and the forfeiture of the deposit.
