SECTION 3Child Related Policies

POLICY 3.5 0
LINKS TO OTHER POLICIES
3.1- Child Protection
3.2- Sleep and Rest at the Service
3.3- Child Transitions & Continuity of Care
3.4- Transition to School (Preschool Program)
3.6- Early Intervention and Developmental Assessment
3.7- Biting
3.8- Positive Interactions with Children
3.9- Equity, Inclusion and Reducing Bias
3.10- Clothing and Comfort
3.11- Photo Permission Policy
STATEMENT
At Explore & Develop, it is our duty of care to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all children,
employees and others within the service at all times. The Approved Provider has a duty of care to the
employees to provide a safe and non-fearful working environment; all individuals have the right to be
treated with dignity in an environment free from intimidation, harassment and violent or aggressive
behaviours.
In keeping with the services philosophy, the prime focus of Explore & Develop is to provide a safe and
secure learning environment to foster the overall wellbeing of all children; our work with children is based
on beliefs, which include:

.
.

Children are citizens with right as individuals.

Trusting and caring early relationships, interactions and experiences (that are also engaging and
interesting) support the healthy development of the individual to their potential.

Children are competent and resourceful.

Explore & Develop aims to provide children with positive guidance and redirection as a means for learning
appropriate behaviours. Educators will discuss behaviour expectations with all children and set simple
rules for children to follow while at the service.
It is the expectation, at Explore & Develop, that all employees, parents, guardians and other adults model
acceptable behaviour at all times within the service as well as assisting children in managing their
behaviours in an appropriate manner. We ask families to work in partnership with us in achieving this goal
as it is not only the responsibility of the educators and staff at the service, but also the responsibility of the
childs family/carers.
PROCEDURE
This is the Explore & Develop policy for supporting and guiding childrens behaviour in positive ways.
FOUNDATION BELIEFS
How we as adults view children has a direct impact on our interactions with them and on the type of
environment we create for them. When we regard children as competent, powerful and resourceful, it
All rights reserved. www.exploreanddevelop.com.au

conveys to children a sense that they are valued. This has a direct impact on how children see themselves
and on their connections with other people and with their environment.
Childrens behaviour is best guided in a supportive environment, within the context of trusting
relationships. We recognise that when a childs right to make choices, show initiative and be valued, is not
respected, challenging behaviour is more likely to occur.
Explore & Develop understands that there may also be medical reasons which contribute to the expression
of extreme behaviours, and we endeavour to work in partnership with families, carers, employees and
external agencies in the implementation
Aims
In view of this, Explore & Develop aims to create environments that foster supportive, respectful
relationships between children, carers and families, and we support interactions that are considerate of
other people and the environment we are within.
We aim to provide an environment that:
Promotes trusting relationships
Trusts childrens ideas, resourcefulness and competence
Supports children in making decisions
Encourages children to consider ways that their behaviour impacts on others and the environment
Respects childrens time
Fosters negotiation between children and between children and adults
Honours and respects childrens rights and allows children to learn through life experiences
Models respectful ways of interacting, negotiating, consulting
Understands each childs unique family/social context, perspective and promotes equity
Our aim is also to foster, amongst all children and adults, a sense of respect and consideration for
themselves and others. We also encourage adults to explore their own values and beliefs and to consider
how these impact on the children.
PRACTICE
Our practice reflects the following:
Respecting childrens right to be safe and healthy, and supporting them to keep others safe also by
ensuring the physical space is free of dangers, and assisting them in developing sincere, trusting and
consistent relationships with their peers, their families and employees. Creating an environment that
promotes a sense of belonging and that stimulates childrens interests and promotes good health.
Respecting childrens right to explore the environment and encouraging a respect for this environment by
verbally sharing our value of the environment and modelling care and consideration. We invite children to
nurture the physical environment, providing experiences that encourage links between our physical
environment and the broader global environment.
Valuing equity, and aiming to empower all children to recognise and challenge injustice by listening and
respecting their ideas, providing children with choice, by being in tune with their interactions and
encouraging fairness, by supporting childrens negotiations, by modelling empathy and compassion, by
using resources that challenge stereotypes and reflecting on personal values and how this relates to
practice.
We understand these rights are the same for all children, regardless of their age, gender, cultural
background.
We will arrange discussions and information sessions and provide resource packages on any aspects of
childrens behaviour that particularly interests or concerns families, including our strategies for responding
to tantrums and extreme behaviour.
All rights reserved. www.exploreanddevelop.com.au

In relation to tantrums
Intense curiosity and the intent to learn and develop new skills, combined with the frustration of current
capabilities (such as language skills) and the fatigue of a long day can often contribute to emotional
meltdowns or tantrums.
Safety is the first consideration. Educators and other employees ensure the safety of all persons in the
area.
No matter how much planning you do some tantrums will occur, most often a meltdown or tantrum is a
genuine expression of distress or frustration; our educators understand this and will endeavour to provide
the child with reassurance by being close-by and acknowledging that their emotions are valid and that we
are here to help them through their frustrations.
The following strategies are used when tantrums occur:

We stay with the child. Remember that being out of control of your emotions can be a frightening
time for a child.
We talk to the child gently but firmly eg I can see that you are really upset and I will stay with you
until you are feeling better. It is okay to cry but I will not let you kick or hit others.
It is important not to give in to what the child wants, which could reinforce this behaviour.
When the child is calm, we talk with him/her about his/her feelings and discuss alternative
strategies, it is important to assist the child in finding an acceptable solution to expressing their
emotions.
Educators and other employees should re-evaluate the environment and assess whether there may
have been any environmental triggers that should be documented.

In relation to extreme behaviour

As with tantrums, ensuring the safety of the child, other children, employees and others is of the highest
consideration
Extreme behaviour is the reoccurrence of behaviours which are disrespectful, intimidating, harmful or
violent to other children, employees and others. Explore & Develop do understand that there may be
external factors which contribute to the extreme behaviours that a child may portray.
Behaviour guidance strategies for children, where extreme behaviour is a reoccurring scenario at the
service, will be discussed with the childs families and employees working alongside the child and where
applicable the service will strive to access inclusion support agencies to assist in developing and
implementing a behaviour guidance plan for the child.
In assisting our educators and other employees in managing extreme behaviours most effectively,
families/carers are asked to:

Communicate with the childs room educator/s in relation to behaviours being observed at the
service, being mindful childrens behaviours can be different from those seen in the home environment

Inform the childs room educators, and the Approved Provider or Nominated Supervisor of any
concerning behaviours that have been occurring.

Assist Explore & Develop in their endeavour to access support agencies or other external
professionals: this will allow employees to be supported in their role to go onto support the child in
managing their behaviours.
All rights reserved. www.exploreanddevelop.com.au

Work collaboratively, in partnership with educators and other employees at Explore & Develop in
implementing behaviour management strategies that are consistent with the approaches being
implemented at the service or as recommended by inclusion support agencies.

Attend regular meetings, either verbal or in person, to assess and maintain effective behaviour
guidance strategies for all parties

Source
Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority Accessed 19 June 2012 from
http://acecqa.gov.au
Community Services - NSW Curriculum Framework from Childrens Services - The Practice of Relationships
Accessed 16 May 2011 from
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCSWR/_assets/main/documents/childcare_framework.
pdf
Early Childhood Australia - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Accessed 16 May 2011 from
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/childrens_rights/un_convention_croc/un_convention_croc.html
Relevant Legislation
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Act 2010
Childrens Services Amendment Regulation 2010
Childrens Services Regulations 2004
For further reading
Community Services. Toddler Tantrum toolkit factsheet Accessed on 16 May 2011 from
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCSWR/_assets/main/documents/TANTRUM_FACT.PDF
Links to National Quality Standard
NQS QA5
Date Endorsed/Reviewed: January 2015
Date for Review: 2016
Management Approval Signature:
The Approved Provider/Nominated Supervisor will ensure that this policy is maintained and implemented
at all times.

All rights reserved. www.exploreanddevelop.com.au