Behaviour Policy

At Claire Pickman Forest School I aim to promote cooperation and positive relationships as well as respect for others and the natural environment.

Respectful and considerate behaviour will be role-modelled by me, my assistants and any volunteer helpers. Where conflict arises we will follow the de-escalation plan as set out below:

De-escalation of issues will be undertaken following the five-point plan:

If a situation arises in which participants are behaving in a way that threatens the safety of the group, the following steps will be taken: 

1. We will seek to recount the facts of the incident as observed, in simple language and without judgement, and if possible mutually agree on these. 

2. We will listen to the involved party or parties, separately.

3. We will discuss what their needs were at the time of the incident and what their needs might be now. They will also be encouraged to consider the needs of everyone else present. 

4. We will aim to help them to express any requests they might have clearly and in positive language. These can be requests of themselves, others, the situation or of the activity. 

5. We will encourage a discussion of new strategies so that if a similar situation arises the participant(s) feel able to communicate their needs without negative outcomes.

Sometimes a change in activity can be helpful to re-engage a child or group who may have a grievance about an issue that has occurred. Should any unacceptable behaviour continue and the de-escalation plan not be effective, I will contact the child’s parent/guardian and ask them to collect their child. If this happens I  will write an incident report outlining the issue and steps taken to resolve the situation. I will be in contact with the parents/guardians to look at what can be done in subsequent weeks to help their child have a more positive experience. 

As a very last resort, a child who has repeated unacceptable behaviour, causing undue risk to themselves or others in consecutive weeks may be asked to take a break from the club and invited to return on the understanding that the unacceptable behaviour cannot continue.