2.7 Behaviour Management and Child Handling

Last updated: September 22, 2023

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT AND CHILD HANDLING

PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE OF THE POSITIVE HANDLING

Various methods and guiding principles are implemented to show appropriate behaviour, including distraction, praise, rewards, and excellent nursery–home links.

  1. Warning
  2. Developmentally Appropriate Handling
  3. Explain to the child
  4. Thinking time
  5. Parents are informed in order they may support  at home by talking to their child
  6. Policy adhered to

 

PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE OF THE PHYSICAL HANDLING

  1. Children are held by their shirts or jumpers at their shoulder and lifted up (that way they are not being physically touched).
  2. If the child is big, they are lifted by the staff by placing their hands under either side of the child’s body, just below his armpits, so that they are able to lift them in one swift movement.
  3. The children are moved from their big bones holding them above the elbow joint on the upper arm. This minimises the risk of dislocation of the shoulder.
  4. The children are led by the hand or with the hand on the back.
  5. The children are not guided by the touch to their heads. Even when praising, children are not patted on their head or cheek, the pat is generally on their shoulders or back. Praise will be given verbally through words, sentences, songs, and visual images/gestures. Patting to praise will not be permitted.

What type of restrictive physical intervention can and cannot be used?

  1. Aim for side by side contact with the child
  2. Aim for no gap between the adult’s and the child’s body
  3. Aim to keep the adults back as straight as possible
  4. Hold children by ‘long’ bones, i.e., avoid grasping at joints where pain and damage are most likely
  5. Ensure that there is no restriction to the child’s ability to breathe.
  6. Avoid lifting children.
  7. At no time will a child be forced to spend time alone in a locked room.

 

 

To read more about our Safeguarding policy, click here (Page 101 of Staff Policies and Procedures handbook).

Please click this link to sign the Undertaking Statement on Safeguarding Policy at JINS. (This is mandatory)