Behaviour Policy

I've been asked about what behaviour is exspected at Forest School so below is our policy taken from Tinderbox Forest School Hand Book.

Tinderbox aims to support children to:

• Develop self-esteem, independence and motivation to learn whilst always maintaining a safe environment.
• Develop in both children and adults a pride in their achievements.
• Develop awareness of acceptable and responsible behaviour in the outdoor environment.
• Promote respect for and care for the individual, those around them and the natural environment.
• Working together.

Tinderbox Forest School will show continuity in expectations of behaviour and behaviour management during Forest School sessions.

Tinderbox will promote positive behaviours through role modelling, positive reinforcement, verbal praise and the opportunity to undertake additional responsibility.

For the Forest School community to achieve these aims we all need to demonstrate a certain standard of behaviour through the following expectations:

The role of the Adults at Forest School

·        Create a positive environment that encourages and reinforces caring, nurturing and acceptable behaviour towards one another, the environment and the equipment.

·        Provide a positive role model for all in the Forest School.

·        Keep in mind that we need to be safe at all times.

·        Maximise individual success and raise self-esteem by placing at the centre of the Forest School the needs of the children such as learning styles, social and behavioural needs

·        Make sure that individuals know when they have done well.

      The role of the child

·        Listen carefully and respond to instructions and requests, especially those concerning safety.

·        Develop and maintain an acceptable attitude towards everyone at Forest School, the environment and all equipment.

Sanctions

When sanctions for inappropriate behaviour are need, the Forest School leader will ensure that the following steps are taken, escalating as required.

1.      Talk to the child in a calm manner and find out what caused the behaviour.

2.      Child is taken to one side and a verbal warning is given prompting them to think what is acceptable behaviour at Forest School.

3.      The child is given breathing and thinking time away from the main group (time out to calm down).  The child can return to the group once calm and will be supported to rejoin the activity.  

4.      If three lots of ‘thinking times’ occur during a session then the child will miss out on the next session.  A letter explaining what has happened will be sent to the parents and the head teacher will be copied in.

If the child’s actions have put themselves or others in danger the matter will be dealt with as follows:

·      The child’s emergency contact will be called and they will be asked to come and collect the child.

·      A letter will follow and be sent to the parents and the head teacher explaining what happened.

·      The child will miss the following Forest School session if the behaviour is deemed to have been very unsafe.

·      If the behaviour is deemed to be less severe, the child will be expected to produce a piece of work explaining why what they did was unsafe to bring to the following session.  Failure to turn up with the work and they will miss the following session.

·      In all cases the Forest School leader will complete an incident report.