Discipline policy
The primary goal of the staff at Creative Discoveries Preschool is to ensure that all the children can experience a safe, comfortable environment, where they are able to enjoy the freedom to explore and participate in all the activities with a sense of confidence, as well as exercise their imaginations.
To allow an opportunity for these conditions to be met, the children will be introduced to the rules and guidelines, in addition to the consequences of appropriate and inappropriate actions. The discussions surrounding the behavioural expectations in the classroom will continue throughout the year, in an attempt to foster an understanding and awareness that will encourage the children to realize there is a sense in behaving and acting in a positive manner. A four-step approach, implemented by the staff in order to accomplish these goals, is a follows:
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Plan for: problematic situations by providing enough equipment and activities, and by setting the ground rules before the problem arises.
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Pause & Observe: Stand back for a moment and watch. If the involved children are not in danger of being harmed in the process, allow the children an opportunity to resolve the problems on their own.
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Explore & Assist: It is important that the staff member attending to the situation does not blame or accuse either child, as it is likely the adult did not observe the entire interaction. Both children will be given the chance to express their interpretation of the problem, to give the teacher the opportunity to understand the problem more clearly.
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Communicate: The children will be encouraged to generate their own solution. “What do you think is the best way to solve this?” If this method is ineffective in a particular scenario, the teacher will state the problem and then offer the children, one or two possible options as a solution to the specific situation. The teacher will insist, for example: if Johnny is throwing sand and bothering others repeatedly, the teacher would explain to Johnny what the problem is and offer him the choice of possibly, not throwing the sand or leave the sand table and play with the trucks. If the teacher’s verbal directions is not effective, she may accompany the child to a quieter area in the room for a small amount of time, to allow them a chance to calm and better understand the particular situation. A teacher would always remain with the child if they are removed from the play area. The parent would be notified of the situation, so the parent and teacher can work together as a team to attempt solutions which would be sensitive to the needs of everyone involved.
If a child’s actions or behaviours are seen as having potential to jeopardize the safety and enjoyment of the teachers or classmates, then the staff would begin formal discussions with the parent. If the family chooses not to support and be involved in the teacher’s request, the child would be withdrawn from the program. Any child disciplinary action will be reasonable in the circumstances of the particular situation.
All Creative Discoveries Preschool staff, will ensure that none of the following occurs in any interaction with a child at any time in the program:
- Inflict any form of physical punishment, verbal or physical degradation or emotional deprivation or cause it to be inflicted
- Deny or threaten to deny any basic necessity
- Use or permit the use of any form of physical restraints, confinement, or isolation