Settings could have a Behaviour Management Policy that outlines a graduated approach and is:
- developed in consultation with the staff (and committee)
- reflects the settings ethos and approach to positive behaviour management
- agreed with and understood by all concerned
- reviewed together at least annually
- shared with all parents/carers as part of your induction arrangements
- designed to promote consistency and a mutually supportive approach between all staff
- Linked to general and specific provision for children’s emotional well-being, such as PSE Early Years Outcomes statements.
- General procedures should include ongoing dialogue with parents/carers to include up-to-date information about any health issues, involvement of other agencies, etc.
- Equalities Act 2010 requirements should be adhered to, i.e. settings must show they have made “reasonable adjustments” to include children and meet their needs
Graduated Approach Stage One – Normally undertaken by the Key Person If concerns arise about a child’s behaviour:
- Gather information from colleagues who work with the child. Include up-to-date assessments from observations of the child’s interests and stages of development within the Early Years Outcome statements, across all areas and aspects of learning and development.
- Check expectations of staff and enabling environments on offer are age/stage appropriate for the child.
- Make targeted observations describing what happened, identifying the context, e.g. size of group; adult support; Include time audits for example of story times, snack times, toilet routines where appropriate.
- Take full account of factors; such as the length of time the child has attended the setting.
- Discuss concerns with evidence from observations and assessments against the EYO to share concerns and strategies with Parents. Ask about any concerns at home.
- Ensure that the nature of identified difficulties is fully clarified with objective, nonjudgemental, specific examples recording what was observed.
- Assess the enabling environment inside and outside with colleagues – how the space, accessibility of resources, routines, expectations, learning opportunities, adult deployment – support the child to engage positively.
- Talk with the child/use your observations to try to gain his/her perspective.
- Together with colleagues use information from the above to identify strategies/ “reasonable adjustments”/differentiation in planning for the child or special targets.
- Share input/feedback with parents/carers and identify home/setting links and support for the child. With specific ideas to support the home learning environment.
- Review as a team, with parents/carers and the child if possible. It may be appropriate to evaluate the need for any further medical assessments such as hearing test/schedule of growing skills.
Stage Two
Continue to follow Stage One actions, and if concerns continue for more than a month or two:
- Discuss the use of strategies and any progress with the setting SENCO. Involve parents all the time.
- Develop targets for the child and your setting, setting up an Individual Education/Behaviour Plan, with SMART targets that are small, supported regularly (daily) evaluated.(weekly)
- Reviewed with parents as before.
Stage Three
If concerns continue: SENCo/Key person should seek advice/visit from the Early Years Consultant and discuss requests for involvement from outside agencies.
Please Note
Any decision regarding exclusion can only be made within a review which includes parents/carers and outside agencies, including advisory staff from the local authority. Should there be an exclusion this must be within the context of a clearly defined documented graduated approach and a re-integration plan, working closely with parents/carers. Strategies such as changing the pattern of the child’s attendance must only be used in the best interests of the child and in agreement with the parents/carers, otherwise this would be deemed to be a form of exclusion.
Resource
A Graduated Approach Quick Guidelines – this is a PDF copy of the information stated above.