Rationale:  To provide a positive environment where children are given respect and opportunities to develop social competence by learning strategies and working theories and are also encouraged, taking responsibility for their own actions.

Aim: Children will be provided with opportunities to learn to value themselves, those around them and their environment.  Children and staff will work together to develop effective social competence skills so that all persons at the centre feel valued and respected. Educators will always encourage children to share their feelings, communicate, listen, take-turns.  The importance of teina/tuakana  -the older staff and children will take care of the younger staff and children and the younger staff and children will respect the older staff and children at all times. 

Procedure: Corporal punishment, neglect, threats and time out methods are not to be used by any staff, parents/whanau and children at any time.

 Each child is valued and individual differences are acknowledged so that children can feel a sense of self worth.  Staff will role model good behaviour and if possible, anticipate children’s actions and moods before a problem arises.

Staff will give children positive encouragement of appropriate behaviour.  Inappropriate behaviour will be discouraged or the child will be distracted or redirected to another activity depending on the situation. Clear boundaries, limits and instructions will be given to children. 

Staff will work alongside the children to prevent inappropriate behaviour by developing the child’s awareness to the situation.

Children will be encouraged to feel empathy towards others and to see how their actions have affected those around them.

Educators in a stressful situation will be encouraged to move away and request another staff member to take over.  Should a child’s behaviour begin to cause concern the staff will: observe the child’s behaviour and record events leading up to it, discuss the child’s behaviour with a senior staff person and seek support from manager. The manager will inform parents of their child’s behaviour and if inappropriate behaviour continues to exist then parent’s and staff will work together to decide a plan of action as to how to manage the child’s behaviour best and if necessary staff will seek assistance from Specialist Education Services.

When the child’s behaviour continues to endanger other children, management may, after careful consideration, ask the parent/caregiver to remove the child from this centre.

Reference: Early Childhood Regulations 43