Behaviour Policy

Behaviour Policy - 2026      

Holiday Camps and After School Provision

Policy Aims

We aim to provide a warm, relaxed, stimulating and orderly environment for children to feel comfortable within themselves and their surroundings. In doing so, the diversity of social and cultural backgrounds, the feelings and views of all children, parents and carers, and staff will be valued and respected.

Rationale

  • To support positive, confident, caring children and adults.

  • To provide guidance and support for children to make positive choices aligned with our RESPECT values.

    • Respect

    • Enjoy

    • Support

    • Play fairly

    • Empathy

    • Commit

    • Team

  • To recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and is telling us something about how a child is feeling or what they are experiencing.

  • To share an understanding that positive choices and actions are the result of children and adults modelling expectations and behaviours.

  • To ensure bullying, harassment and discrimination are dealt with fairly, effectively and promptly.

  • To deliver fair, consistent and clear guidance around behaviours, including rewards and consequences that staff follow with a common approach.

Whilst freedom is important, at Sporting Chance we believe in the importance of setting boundaries that children must understand and follow, for their own safety and for the safety of other children attending, and adults hosting the provision. We aim to do this in a way in which we will help each child develop a sense of responsibility for their own choices and actions. 

We will always aim to praise and reinforce positive behaviour before using sanctions. When it is deemed necessary to use the steps outlined in this policy the child’s age and stage of development are of consideration in the decision making process. 

What we do to promote positive behaviour

  1. We make clear expectations. Be READY, Be RESPECTFUL, & Be SAFE

  2. We praise good behaviour privately and publicly

  3. We promote respect for each other, our equipment, and surroundings.

  4. We set good standards through our own example

  5. We give rewards such as stickers and certificates

Worker’s responsibilities

  1. To treat all children fairly and with respect.

  2. Listen to and value the feelings of all children, staff, and parents.

  3. To help raise the children’s self esteem, independence and self value.

  4. To support the children to make the right choices.

  5. To help children become aware of the consequences of their behaviour.

  6. To recognise that each child is an individual and be aware of that child’s needs/stage of development. 

  7. To foster good relations with parents/carers and other site users.

  8. Be aware of factors that contribute to different behavioural patterns.

  9. To have a positive and friendly attitude and be positive role models.

  10. To handle any behavioural issues in accordance with the company’s confidentiality regulations for GDPR. 

Child’s responsibilities

Children should:

  1. Treat staff and other children with respect.

  2. Take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions.

  3. Listen to and follow the instructions of the Sporting Chance staff team.

  4. Listen to camp briefings and ensure they follow our guidance in order to keep themselves and others safe. 

  5. Take care of all equipment and the surrounding environment.

  6. Be responsible for their belongings. Sporting Chance cannot be responsible for children leaving their belongings behind.

Examples of unacceptable behaviours

  1. Physical aggression: hitting, kicking, smacking, biting, slapping or any other form of physical harm, damage to equipment or property.

  2. Verbal aggression: swearing or verbal abuse including disrespectful language.

  3. Anti-social or discriminating remarks: name calling, bullying, teasing or any other act of discrimination.

  4. Intimidation or manipulation: child to child, adult to child or child to adult.

  5. Unsafe behaviour towards adults, other children or self, including but not limited to; running away, climbing trees, attempting to open gates, venturing into ‘out of bounds’ areas.

  6. Failing to follow safety guidance / instruction from staff or management.

The aforementioned behaviour choices will in most cases lead to an escalation to stage 4 on our behaviour step. and will be dealt with by our Camp Leadership team and parents / carers will be informed immediately. 

What we do when a rule is broken

  • Every child should be talked to respectfully.

  • When an incident is between two or more children, each child will be listened to and allowed to express their feelings and thoughts in a calm environment. 

  • All children are listened to with restorative conversations taking place where appropriate to do so. Any decisions to offer a consequence will be communicated clearly with children and adults. 

  • All children who attend our provision will be supported by the following process to ensure fair outcomes for all. 

4 Stage Process 

  1. Reminder - verbal and recorded

  2. Warning - verbal and recorded

  3. 2nd Warning - regulation and reflective discussion with Group Leader (3-5 mins) - verbal and recorded

  4. Final Warning - regulation and reflective discussion with Camp Leader away from the group (10 mins) Parent will be notified - verbal and recorded.

Stage 4 escalation - this applies to the examples of unacceptable behaviours as listed previously. In the event that a parent / carer is communicated (phone call) to advise a child has reached stage 4 escalation the following guidance will be followed …

Holiday Camps - children will be excluded on their next ‘booked’ day. This will be a single day exclusion with the expectation that restorative conversations at home will help support the child’s future attendance*

After School Provision - if a child reaches stage 4 escalation twice in one term (half term) then the child will be temporarily excluded for one session from the block. Upon return if there is a repeat of any behavioural issue then the child will be excluded for the remainder of the term for that particular after school club*

*Fees - For Holiday Camps, refunds WILL be given for a day of exclusion in the same holiday period. Children that are temporarily excluded from a single session of an After School Clubs programme will receive a part-refunds to the value of a single session. 

Bullying

We take bullying very seriously. Bullying involves the persistent physical or verbal abuse of another child or children. It is characterised by intent to hurt, often planned, and accompanied by an awareness of the impact of the bullying behaviour.

If a child bullies another child or children:

  1. We show the children who have been bullied that we are able to listen to their concerns and act upon them;

  2. We intervene to stop the child who is bullying from harming the other child or children;

  3. We explain to the child doing the bullying why her/his behaviour is not acceptable;

  4. We give reassurance to the child or children who have been bullied;

  5. We help the child who has done the bullying to recognise the impact of their actions;

  6. We make sure that children who bully receive positive feedback for considerate behaviour and are given opportunities to practise and reflect on considerate behaviour;

  7. We do not label children who bully as ‘bullies’;

  8. We recognise that children who bully may be experiencing bullying themselves, or be subject to abuse or other circumstance causing them to express their anger in negative ways towards others;

  9. We recognise that children who bully are often unable to empathise with others and for this reason we do not insist that they say sorry unless it is clear that they feel genuine remorse for what they have done. Empty apologies are just as hurtful to the bullied child as the original behaviour;

  10. We discuss what has happened with the parents of the child who did the bullying and work out with them a plan for handling the child’s behaviour; and

  11. We share what has happened with the parents of the child who has been bullied, explaining that the child who did the bullying is being helped to adopt more acceptable ways of behaving.

Any form of bullying behaviour constitutes an automatic stage 4 escalation and the previous steps will be applied. 

Parent / carer’s responsibilities

  1. To be aware of the rules and expectations of the club.

  2. To share information with staff on your child’s development, health and wellbeing.

  3. To let us know if someone else is collecting your child and give them a password.

  4. To collect your child on time – if you are going to be unavoidably late then please contact the club to let them know

  5. To direct any worries, concerns or complaints to the club’s coordinator/deputy, arranging a meeting if required

  6. To make your children aware of what is acceptable behaviour.

  7. To encourage independence and self-discipline.

  8. To show interest in what their children do.

  9. To foster good relations with the club.

  10. To support the club in the implication of this policy.

Please refrain from:

  1. Shouting at, smacking or physically punishing your child, or any other children, whilst in the club.

  2. Using inappropriate language or displaying aggressive or threatening behaviour towards the staff, children or other parents/carers either in person, or on the phone, text message, email or in writing.

  3. Collecting your child after the consumption of alcohol, medication or other substances that have affected your judgement or responses.

  4. Discussing sensitive issues within hearing distance of your child, or other children.

  5. Taking photos or video recordings of children, other than your own.

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