We recognise the importance of positive and effective behaviour management strategies in promoting your child's welfare, development and enjoyment.

Our aims are to help the children to:

• Develop a sense of caring and respect for one another.
• Build caring and co-operative relationships with others.
• Develop a range of social skills, which helps them learn what constitutes acceptable behaviour.
• Develop confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

Behaviour Management Strategies
We will work together with you and your child to adopt clear, consistent and positive rules and strategies. We encourage everyone to contribute to these strategies, raising concerns and offering suggestions.

Behaviour management in the club will be structured around the following principles:

• Each term, we will work together with the children to establish a clear set of rules.
• We will set a positive example to the children and be positive role models.
• Positive behaviour will be reinforced through praise.
• Negative behaviour will be challenged in a calm but assertive manner.
• We will always be clear in our stating and explaining of non-negotiable issues.
• Activities will be varied, well planned and structured in an attempt to prevent the children becoming bored or distracted.
• We will attempt to redirect a child's negative energies by offering them alternative activities to promote a positive outcome.
• We will have regular, open discussions with the children about their behaviour. This will help the children to:
• Understand the positives of good behaviour.
• Enable them to have a say.
• Think through the cause and effect of negative behaviour.
• Understand the consequences of negative behaviour.
• We will promote an atmosphere where everyone can respect and value one another.
• We will discuss any concerns with you, in an attempt to help identify the cause of the negative behaviour and share strategies to deal with it.
• We will encourage and facilitate mediation between children in a bid to resolve conflict.
• We will never humiliate, segregate, withhold food or use a 'naughty chair' to manage a child's behaviour.

Incentives for positive behaviour
We promote positive behaviour through a range of incentives including individual and group rewards.

A celebratory event is organised and worked towards to recognise the positive contributions made by both children and staff.

How we deal with negative behaviour
When confronted with negative behaviour we will distinguish between disengaged, disruptive and unacceptable behaviours.

Disengaged behaviour may indicate that a child is bored, unsettled or unhappy. With sensitive interventions we may be able to re-engage a child in positive, purposeful activity.

Disruptive behaviour describes a child whose behaviour prevents others from enjoying themselves. Staff will discuss such incidents and agree on the best way to deal with them.

Unacceptable behaviour refers to non-negotiable actions and may include discriminatory remarks, violence, bullying or destruction of equipment. We will be clear that consequences will follow such behaviour, including in the first instance 'time out' whereby the child is temporarily removed from the main activity.

When an incident of negative behaviour occurs, we will:

• Listen to the children concerned and offer a chance for the child to explain their actions.
• Explain what was unacceptable about their actions and discuss the consequences with them.
• Make every attempt to ensure that the children understand what is being said to them and they will be offered the chance to make amends for their behaviour.
• In most circumstances the child will be allowed to return to the session.

If unacceptable behaviour persists, more serious action will be taken, as per the Sanctions, Suspensions and Exclusions Policy.