About this series
Registration requires settings to have certain key policies and procedures.
In addition to these, there are other documents that need to be in place that reflect good practice. This series aims to:
* Explain what needs to be included within these policies and procedures.
* Show providers how to link their policies and procedures to the Every Child Matters outcomes and to relevant legislation and guidance.
* Show how to include staff in the development of the policies and procedures.
* Demonstrate the importance of sharing the policies anxd procedures with parents and stakeholders
Behaviour policy
Links to Every Child Matters
* Helping children make a positive contribution Links to National Standards
* National Standard 11 - Behaviour Links to legislation and key guidance
* Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004
* Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989
* Data Protection Act DPA 1998
* Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004
* Freedom of Information Act 2000
* Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976
* Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) 2000
* Sex Discrimination Acts (SDA) 1975 and 1986
* Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
* The Human Rights Act (HRA) 2000 Useful contacts
* Direct Gov, for information relating to legislation, www.direct.gov.uk
* UNICEF, www.unicef.org
A good policy includes
* How staff promote and model positive behaviour
* How you work in partnership with parents and other professionals
* How you create a positive and inclusive environment for all children
* How staff record incidents that relate to behaviour accurately and fairly
* How you enhance children's self-esteem, identity and worth
* How children's views are included when devising rules and boundaries
* How you agree what is unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour
* How the senior management team monitor and supervise the implementation of the policy
* The role of the named person responsible for behaviour management
* How you ensure staff and/or other adults do not give corporal punishment
In practice this means:
Staff consistently role model positive behaviour, for example, staff do not raise their voices. There are opportunities for staff to consult with children regarding issues that affect them. Rules are kept to a minimum and staff give step-by-step instructions to children. Children have many opportunities to make decisions and solve their own conflicts. Children respond to positive praise and negative discipline is avoided. Children and their families are never pre-judged.
Staff carefully describe to children why certain behaviours are unwanted or inappropriate. Staff make good use of small group time to discuss positive and negative behaviour. This helps children to understand right from wrong and therefore begin to understand that their behaviour can affect others.
The named person responsible for behaviour constantly shares information with staff regarding behaviour. Any incident that is a result of inappropriate behaviour is recorded and brought to the attention of a senior manager.
Anti-bullying policy
Links to Every Child Matters
* Helping children to be healthy
* Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe
* Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do
* Helping children make a positive contribution
* Organisation
Links to National Standards
* National Standard 3 - Care, learning and planning
* National Standard 11 - Behaviour Links to legislation and key guidance
* Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004
* Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989
* Data Protection Act DPA 1998
* Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
* Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
* Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004
* Freedom of Information Act 2000
* Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976
* Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) 2000
* Sex Discrimination Acts (SDA) 1975 and 1986
* Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
* The Human Rights Act (HRA) 2000
Useful contacts
* Childline, www.childline.org.uk
* Bullying Online, www.bullying.co.uk
* Direct Gov, for information relating to legislation, www.direct.gov.uk
* Kidscape, www.kidscape.org.uk
* UNICEF, www.unicef.org
A good policy and procedure includes:
* How bullying is described and defined
* How you make reference to any bullying that occurs between children, staff and users
* How you prevent bullying
* How you deal with bullying (procedure)
* How you support victims and signpost to other agencies and professionals (procedure) In practice this means:
There are opportunities to have open debates about how certain behaviours can have an impact on others. Any bullying that occurs is dealt with swiftly and recorded.
There are systems in place to monitor incidents that relate to bullying.
Victims feel supported and listened to. The final result of persistent bullying is that exclusion from the setting may be the last resort.
Whistle-blowing policy
Links to Every Child Matters
* Helping children to be healthy
* Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe
* Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do
* Helping children make a positive contribution
* Organisation
Links to National Standards
* National Standards 1 - 14
A good policy and procedure includes:
* How you explain the principle of whistle-blowing
* How you give examples of any concerns that an employee may have that relate to the children and/or organisation
* How you give assurances to employees regarding their safety and how confidentiality will be maintained
* How employees are able to report any unlawful conduct, financial malpractice and any dangerous practice (procedure)
In practice this means:
There is a transparent culture within the setting. Staff are aware that they are able to report any suspicious activity. Staff know that any issues raised are dealt with seriously and robustly. However, malicious issues are also dealt with seriously.
Child protection
Links to Every Child Matters
* Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe National Standards
* Standard 13 - Child protection
Links to legislation and key guidance
* Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004
* Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989
* Data Protection Act DPA 1998
* Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004
* Freedom of Information Act 2000
* Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976
* Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) 2000
* Sex Discrimination Acts (SDA) 1975 and 1986
* Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
* The Human Rights Act (HRA) 2000
Useful contacts
* Childline, www.childline.org.uk
* National Society for Prevention to Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), www.nspcc.org.uk
* Direct Gov for information relating to legislation), www.direct.gov.uk
* UNICEF, www.unicef.org
A good policy and procedure includes:
* How you state the signs and symptoms of abuse
* How you use documentation from the local safeguarding children's board
* How the lead person ensures that all staff demonstrate an understanding of child protection and how this relates to their role
* How you make sure that unvetted adults are never left alone with children
* How you make sure parents are aware of your duty to share child protection issues with other professionals and agencies
* How staff are made aware of guidance, such as 'what to do if you're worried a child is being abused'
* How you make sure staff do not make themselves vulnerable
* How any child protection issues are reported and recorded (procedure)
* How you deal with any allegations of abuse against a member of staff and/or any other adults (procedure)
* How you support children, their families and staff, if a child protection incident were to occur
In practice this means:
The staff member who is responsible for child protection makes sure that every member of staff is competent in their child protection knowledge.
Parents receive specific literature on the setting's child protection duties. Staff also take time to explain and discuss what the policy and procedure means in practice. There are effective systems in place that would work well if a child protection incident were to occur. The organisation of the day ensures that staff are not left in vulnerable positions. The setting has a list of agencies and professionals who are able to offer support to children, parents and staff.
Points to remember:
Policies and procedures should:
* reflect the practice on offer
* be reviewed and monitored on a regular basis
* be updated in accordance with legislation and guidance
* be accessible and available at all times.
