Behaviour management policy

SENtre uses effective behaviour management strategies to promote the welfare and enjoyment of children attending. Working in partnership with parents, we aim to manage behaviour using clear, consistent, and positive strategies. The SENtre rules are clearly displayed at every session and are discussed regularly. We appreciate that children attending have autism and adapt these rules to each child’s level of understanding.

Whilst at SENtre we expect children to:

• Use socially acceptable behaviour
• Comply with the SENtre rules, which are compiled by the children attending the SENtre
• Respect one another, accepting differences of race, gender, ability, age and religion
• Develop their independence by maintaining self-discipline
• Choose and participate in a variety of activities
• Ask for help if needed and are able to verbally, through sign and/or PECs
• Enjoy their time at the SENtre.

Encouraging positive behaviour

At SENtre, positive behaviour is encouraged by:

• Staff acting as positive role models
• Praising appropriate behaviour
• Reinforcement tailored to each child’s motivation
• Informing parents about individual achievements
• Offering a variety of play opportunities to meet the needs of children attending the SENtre.

It is inevitable that as children develop and learn, there are times when they need support and guidance to understand that their behaviour is not acceptable. Staff at the SENtre will try to determine the cause or triggers of the inappropriate behaviour to prevent the situation from recurring.

Dealing with inappropriate behaviour

• Challenging behaviour will be addressed in a calm, firm and positive manner. We have thinking/calm areas which children will be directed to.
• In the first instance, the child will be temporarily removed from the activity.
• Staff will discuss why the behaviour displayed is deemed inappropriate.
• Staff will give the child an opportunity to explain their behaviour, to help prevent a recurrence.
• Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try to resolve conflicts through discussion and negotiation.
• If the inappropriate behaviour appears to be as a result of boredom, staff will consult with the child to find activities that more fully engage them.
• Staff will consult with parents to formulate clear strategies for dealing with persistent inappropriate behaviour.
• We will not threaten any punishment that could adversely affect a child’s well-being (eg withdrawal of food or drink).
• Staff members who have attended and passed positive handling training may safely remove children from an activity.
• If a child drops to the floor, they will be made safe by moving furniture and providing a cushion and/or support for their head. They will get up in their own time. Staff members will not leave them unattended during this time. Other children may be safely moved away from the area.

If after consultation with parents and the implementation of behaviour management strategies, a child continues to display inappropriate behaviour, the Club may decide to exclude the child. The reasons and processes involved will be clearly explained to the child.

Physical intervention

Physical intervention will only be used as a last resort, when staff believe that action is necessary to prevent injury to the child or others, or to prevent significant damage to equipment or property. If a member of staff has to physically restrain a child, the manager will be notified, and an Incident record will be completed. The incident will be discussed with the parent or carer as soon as possible. Only staff with positive handling training may do this.

If staff are not confident about their ability to contain a situation, they should call the manager or, in extreme cases, the police.

All serious incidents will be recorded on an Incident record and kept in the child’s file. This may be used to build a pattern of behaviour, which may indicate an underlying cause. If a pattern of incidents indicates possible abuse, we will implement child protection procedures in accordance with our Safeguarding policy.

Corporal punishment

Corporal punishment or the threat of corporal punishment will never be used at the SENtre.

We take all reasonable steps to ensure that no child who attends our SENtre receives corporal punishment from any person who cares for or is in regular contact with the child, or from any other person on our premises.

If a behaviour should persist

If a child attends SENtre and is noticeably distressed and staff are unable to calm them down parents will be called to called them early. Staff should judge this on time and child’s behaviour. Is their behaviour challenging and harmful to the other children? Is the behaviour harmful to staff in a manner that positive handling can not decrease? Children with persistent behaviours will be suspended from SENtre. A behavioural plan will be put in place to transition them back into the placement. There will be weekly reviews regarding the child’s behaviour and the strategies put in place. A team meeting with parents will be held such the behaviour persist. A decision on the provision and placement will be discussed and recorded.

Children may be permanently excluded should behaviours cause continuous harm to children and staff.

This policy was adopted by: Charnel Conway	Date: 1/03/2023
To be reviewed: 1/03/2024	Signed: C.Conway

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Managing behaviour [3.52-3.53].