BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

At Hopscotch we respect and understand that all children’s behaviour along with their cultural beliefs and values varies and that your children’s happiness is paramount.  Therefore, we offer every opportunity for your children to form a good and varied foundation to aid their development.  Most importantly we offer children tender loving care understanding your child is an individual and each child is treated as one.  Close relations, with parents enables us to be able to discuss any sensitive issues in accordance with our confidentiality policy.

Marie Theocharous is head of Behaviour Management and attends any relevant meetings ensuring appropriate feedback is provided.  Parents or staff with any concerns should discuss these with Marie who will offer support and guidance.

Disciplining children should be carried out through good example and encouragement by our competent staff.  Good consistent standards throughout the daily routine, encourages appropriate behaviour.  However no physical intervention should be used at any time i.e holding only in the case of a child being restrained for safety purposes in order to prevent injury to child or others.  Staff should always be aware of the age of the child when using certain methods of discipline.  Difficult behaviour strategies may include, using the age appropriate ‘time-out’ option for example 1 minute for each year of the child.  This time away from a favourite activity for a short period of time is often effective.  The nursery policy is to always ensure that children are encouraged to apologise to the relevant child or adult when appropriate and an explanation is given as to why the action or behaviour is inappropriate.   Naturally the victim would be comforted and supported accordingly. 

All the children at Hopscotch are encouraged by staff in a variety of ways,  e.g. positive vocal tones, facial expressions, and praising language where appropriate.  Our ethos of praising positive behaviour and ignoring unwanted behaviour wherever possible is encouraged throughout the nursery.

Bullying is not accepted at Hopscotch.  Due to the age of the children at Hopscotch the term bullying is defined by repetitive anti social behaviour, which the child understands is not appropriate.  Should such an incident occur the procedure set out in our behaviour policy should be adhered to and then communication with Marie Theocharous head of Behaviour Management should be sought along with communication with the parents.  If we are unable to deal with the matter in house then it would be necessary to seek the advice and help from the behaviour management team within the local authority.