Written by: Simona Dolana                        Date: 15/02/2025

The statutory framework for children under the age of 5 years in England is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). I must also comply with the Childcare Register requirements for children over the age of 5.

Behaviour includes everything a child says and does that can impact or influence someone else. I believe that children need clear, developmentally appropriate expectations to support their behaviour and I encourage children to want to behave well, by providing a happy, safe environment. I set a good example and aim to be a positive role model and ask older children to do the same. I work closely with the children and their parents to encourage good behaviour.

I aim to understand children’s behaviour and support it consistently, working closely with parents and other settings or agencies involved in their life, to ensure children are enabled to enjoy their time in the setting and reach their full potential.

I aim to support behaviour in ways appropriate to the age and stage of the individual child as follows –
•    Distraction – I gently remove the child from the situation.
•   Discussion – I talk to the child, in a developmentally appropriate way, about their behaviour.  I make sure the child knows it is the behaviour I do not like, not them. I do not tell a child they are ‘naughty’ as this can become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
•    Thinking time – children are given the opportunity to think about their behaviour, supported by a practitioner who sits with them, talks to them and helps them to deal with their emotions. It is not appropriate to ignore, humiliate or otherwise punish early years children. 
•    Returning to play – children are invited and supported to return to play when they are ready to join in and they are asked to think again if they continue to behave inappropriately.

As part of the early years curriculum, I teach children about their emotions and feelings and share information with parents so they can use techniques at home. This helps children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and the adults and children around them.

I am aware that corporal punishment and the threat of using corporal punishment is illegal and will not be used in the provision. I will never administer physical punishment or any form of punishment with the intention of causing pain or discomfort, humiliation or hurt. I am aware of the requirement to ‘whistleblow’ if I believe a child has been harmed by corporal punishment. See Safeguarding Policy for more information.  
I am aware of the requirement to record any incidents of physical intervention, where I might have restrained a child to keep them safe from injuring themselves or others or damaging property and share the record with parents.

There is an expectation that parents work together with me to support their child, if there is a concern which needs addressing. I will work with parents to resolve any unwanted ‘poor behaviour’ (defined in the Ofsted early years inspection handbook) so children can get back to their learning. ‘Poor behaviour’ will be recorded as required by Ofsted. Parents need to keep me updated about any changes at home which might lead to change in their child’s behaviour. The information will help me better support their child.

Behaviour escalation strategy: if a child’s behaviour causes ongoing concern, I will –
•    Talk to the child, allowing time for calm and contemplation.
•    Review my behaviour training to make sure I am supporting the child in the best possible ways.
•    Complete an Incident Record to record the ‘poor behaviour’ as required by Ofsted in the Early Years Inspection handbook for the child’s parent to sign to keep them updated.
•    Invite parents to a meeting (preferably without the child) to discuss the ongoing situation and decide a combined strategy. The meeting will be recorded and parents will be asked to sign to confirm the discussion. Note that I reserve the right, with permission from parents as appropriate, to ask advice from other professionals, ensuring confidentiality where possible.
•    Speak to other settings the child attends (if appropriate) to liaise about behaviour strategies. This will help ensure I can support the child through consistent behaviour management in all settings.
•    Monitor the child’s behaviour alongside parents and other settings / agencies.

Any written records will be shared with parents, retained for ‘a reasonable period of time’ (usually 3 years unless otherwise advised by Ofsted or the Local Authority) to comply with data protection legislation and then destroyed.

If you have any questions, please ask. Thank you.