At The Laurels Playschool we believe that children need to have set boundaries of behaviour for their own safety and that safety of others.  We aim to set these boundaries in ways that help children to develop a sense of the significance of their own behaviour, both on their own environment and those around them.  Restrictions on the child’s natural desire to explore and develop their own ideas and concepts are kept to a minimum.  Praise and encouragement are a significant part of motivating good behaviour.

Corporal punishment (slapping, smacking and shaking) and emotional chastisement (humiliation of children) will never be acceptable practice at playschool and will not be used at any time; it may however prove necessary in an emergency to take physical action of a restraining nature to prevent personal injury or serious damage to property.

Time out, distraction, re-direction of attention span, giving alternative choices, and other such similar techniques are our chosen ways of handling children who are using unacceptable behaviour.

A record of all significant incidents and sanctions applied where appropriate is maintained in the sanctions record book and a copy of the entry about a child is given to the parent/carer.  It is playgroup’s policy to involve the parent or carer so as to ensure that there is wherever possible consistency of action both at playschool and at home.