Last updated: April 2026
Review date: April 2027
All behaviour is a means of communication. A sympathetic and compassionate approach to children’s behaviour reframes the question ‘What is wrong with you?’ to ‘What has happened to you?’ In other words we find it helpful to consider looking beyond the behaviour to try and understand what is happening or has happened in a child’s life to cause him/her to behave in a particular way. For example, is he the only child at home and therefore lacks experience and the self-regulation to play cooperatively? Is there a newly arrived baby at home? Has the family recently moved house? Are there sources of stress acting in a child’s life?
Attempting to understand children’s behaviour causes us to focus on the reasons behind it and to support them towards positive behaviour. We are not managing or controlling children’s behaviour to force compliance with our adult expectations but we do need to ensure everyone is kept safe. In applying any boundaries, we must always bear in mind the age, capabilities and the development stage of each child.
Children need to have set boundaries of behaviour for their own safety and the safety of their peers. Within the setting we aim to set these boundaries in a way which helps the child to develop a sense of his/her own self-worth and the significance of their 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.
By positively promoting good behaviour, valuing co-operation and a caring attitude, we aim to support children developing as responsible members of society.
Shouting, verbal abuse or inappropriate language is not acceptable and will never be used when communicating with the children. It may be necessary to raise a voice sometimes to be heard over the noise of a room or if a child is in immediate danger and needs to be stopped but rude, abusive or unacceptable language will never be used. Corporal punishment (slapping, smacking, or shaking) or the threat of corporal punishment will NEVER be acceptable practices and WILL NOT be used.
However, it may be necessary to use reasonable physical intervention in an emergency to prevent personal injury or serious damage to property. The details of the event will be recorded and the parents / carers informed on the same day, as documented in the EYFS. Parents / carers should feel free to discuss any concerns they may have with the setting manager. All matters will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Paint Pots will learn and understand children’s behaviour and will aim to do this by:
Our rules are considered with safety, care and respect for one another. Children who persistently, physically abuse another child or adult may be removed from the group for a short period in order to calm themselves down if needed and to ensure the safety of others. The child who has been upset will be comforted but it is important to acknowledge any feelings of anger or upset that may have triggered the behaviour. It is also important to explain calmly how a child’s actions impact on others and that it is the actions that are an issue. We are not rejecting the child.
Paint Pots Promise will be threaded through our ethos and displayed and discussed with the children in an age appropriate way in every setting. These promises were discussed with Well-being Champions and managers but the list is not exhaustive and can be added to in each nursery.
These promises are referred to when dealing with distressed behaviour to promote consistency. Once the child has managed to calm him/herself, he/she will be supported to rejoin the group. How a particular type of behaviour is handled will depend on the child and the circumstances. This may include: