In the interest of the children's development it is important that parents and staff work together to promote an environment in which children feel secure, accepted, and valued. Growing self discipline, responsibility for ones actions and an awareness of their effect upon others should be central to the complementary aims of staff and parents.
The Nursery Ethos
The Nursery seeks to develop relationships between adults and children which display a high degree of mutual respect, care and understanding, responsibility, kindness, courtesy and consistency, cooperation and support.
The Adult Role
All adults shall provide firm but affectionate guidance (i.e. insist on the child carrying out a polite, reasonable request).
Adults should set good and consistent examples.
Adults should avoid over punitive responses to undesirable behaviour - ignoring the behaviour can be equally effective.
Adults should try to make some time for children on a one to one basis when they make the child feel secure and valued and where codes of good behaviour and self - discipline can be reinforced and rewarded.
The Curriculum
The diversity of the curriculum should provide all children with opportunities for personal growth. Some areas such as role-play are excellent vehicles for exploring a wide range of behaviour situations. There is also an overlap with other areas of the curriculum such as Personal and Social Development where specific activities may be introduced to develop qualities of trust and the promoting of a positive self image.
Carefully matched work gives opportunities for children to experience success, develop confidence and self-esteem. Opportunities should be given for children to develop appropriate attitudes through working as individual and as part of different social groupings. Whole group sessions give the opportunity to publicly value every child's contribution at whatever level.
Organisation and Management
The Nursery environment should be secure, happy and well organised with clearly explained behavioural guidelines consistently upheld and re-stated. A set of nursery rules should be recorded in positive form (Do rather than Do not) and displayed.
A range of challenging well planned and organised learning experiences will encourage positive attitudes to learning and will foster good self discipline. Opportunities should be given at all ages for co-operative work and appropriate behaviour rewarded.
Displays should encourage children to develop an attitude of responsibility and care.
Children's work should be displayed to develop self-esteem, promote high standards and the capacity to value the work of other children.
All staff should expect the same high standards of behaviour in both structured and unstructured situations.
What is acceptable behaviour?
Everyone in Twinkles is required to behave in a responsible manner both towards themselves and to others, showing consideration, courtesy and respect for other peoples needs at all times. The ability to behave appropriately in different circumstances is an essential part of any child education. Good behaviour in the nursery is also necessary for effective teaching and learning to take place.
All children should:
1 Be encouraged to keep their hands and feet to themselves and use kind words.
2 Look at the adult and listen when he/she is talking.
3 Be polite, friendly/helpful.
4 Use kind words and acceptable language.
5 Respond immediately to NO.
6 Carry out requests from adults immediately.
7 Show respect for others, for themselves and for property.
8 Always walk in the Nursery, never run.
Unacceptable behaviour
This is behaviour which interferes with the physical or emotional well-being of others and affects their ability/capacity to work or play constructively and in safety.
In the case of a serious single action between children the parents of both parties should be informed by telephone immediately after the incident has taken place e.g. bite, breaking of skin, nosebleed.
Persistent Poor Behaviour
This must be monitored and an on-going record kept by the room leader to form the basis of discussion when reporting this to the Nursery Manager or to parents.
Children must be made aware of what aspect of their behaviour is not acceptable and the reason for this.
Nursery Nurses deal with and monitor poor behaviour, referring to Room Leaders, Deputy Manager and Nursery Manager in turn as necessary.
Where these rules are not kept the child has one firm warning after which the children has to have "time out".
Incidents of serious outburst must involve the Nursery Manager and in her absence the Deputy Manager. Parents of children's involved in the incident may need to be informed and requested to discuss the matter at the earliest opportunity.
Positive Reinforcement
Verbal praise
Record of child achievement to parents and other members of staff
Public display of child's work e.g. showing Nursery Manager or another member of staff.
Adults should ensure that children understand clearly why behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable.
Further reminders should be clear, firm and phrased in positive language to reinforce for the child the desired behaviour
When the child displays the desired behaviour it should be rewarded and reinforced with praise
Where unacceptable behaviour persists the person in charge of Special Educational Needs (see Organisational Chart) may be involved and parents will be informed and discussions will lead to an agreed target being set to improve some aspect of behaviour. The ways in which parents and Nursery staff will work with the child will be specified and agreed.
1 A clear, achievable target will be set and agreed by Nursery staff and parents.
2 A simple recording system will be devised to complete at home and at nursery with comments from Nursery staff and parents.
3 A simple reward system based around praise, to be agreed.