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We would like to take this opportunity to summarise some of our school policies. Our full policies and procedures may be viewed upon request. Discovery Montessori School is committed to providing a first class education for a child's pre-school years. All of Discovery Montessori School's policies and procedures and written under guidelines given by the Pre-School Learning Alliance and in conjunction with the new National Standards & Directives as set by Ofsted. As always, if you wish to discuss anything with any member of staff, please do not hesitate to do so.

 

Aims & Objectives Statement

  • Discovery is committed to the highest standard of care and education for the children entrusted to its care
  • All are welcome at Discovery and inclusion is given a high priority
  • Discovery will provide a healthy, safe and happy environment for the children and will expect the highest standards of professionalism from its staff
  • We encourage our children to initiate their own activities and make their own choices.
  • Appropriate resources are available to encourage independent and thought-provoking choice
  • We have monitored our activities carefully, to ensure that they are equally accessed by boys and girls, therefore giving them equal satisfaction and enjoyment
  • We will continue to provide role models who promote the concept of equal opportunities and when inviting people with special jobs into our environment, will ensure that there is a balance of policemen/women, Fire Fighters etc.
  • We avoid books, pictures, puzzles, toys, equipment etc., which perpetuate male/female stereotype roles. This in turn will present children with a positive image.
  • We cook using recipes from around the world and our cooking/eating utensils are as varied as our recipes!
  • We emphasise the value of cultural diversity through learning about different festivals and occasions and embrace and welcome different cultures, religions and beliefs
  • We are careful to avoid statements like “two quiet girls”, “three strong boys”, “boys don’t cry”, “girls don’t fight”, as well as avoiding certain damaging words such as “naughty” and “stupid” that may lower children’s self-esteem
  • We avoid using the word “secret” as we do not believe it is appropriate for children at this age to be encouraged to keep secrets from any member of their family or carers
  • We respect dietary restrictions and religious injunctions and practices
  • When organising group activities, we avoid dividing the children by gender i.e. “girls line up first”
  • We encourage parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles etc., to share skills, read stories, take part in our day-to-day activities
  • We take special care to avoid negative, cultural stereotypes of all kinds.
  • We welcome your comments and actively encourage partnership with parents
  • We put children 1st

This is not an exhaustive or conclusive list. For a provision like Discovery to ensure that we deliver excellent care and opportunities for your children, the list above has to be “work in progress”. Your comments, visitors’ comments; comments from Ofsted, other professionals and our wider community ensure that we constantly develop ourselves for the good of your children.

Operational Planning Statement

Please download a copy of our Operational Planning Statements, updated February 2004. The document will open in PDF format (you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it, this is a free program). DOWNLOAD HERE

Collection of Children

We will only release children from our care to parents/guardians/ carers or any other authorised person. If your child is to be collected by someone different, please ensure that the appropriate member of staff is informed beforehand. Thank you.

Comments/Suggestions/Questions/Complaints

If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or complaints concerning Discovery Montessori School, please do not hesitate to speak to any member of staff or the Principal as soon as possible. Alternatively, there is a "comments" book displayed on our notice board in the Reception area for your convenience. Any issue will be dealt with seriously and as quickly as possible.

Behaviour Management & Inclusion Policy

Our school believes that children flourish best when they know how they are expected to behave and should be free to play and learn without fear of being hurt or unfairly restricted by anyone else.

AIM:

We aim to provide an environment in which there is acceptable behaviour and, most importantly, where children learn to respect themselves, other people and their environment.

METHODS:

• We have a named person who is responsible for Behaviour Management; this is Sarah Morton. As such, this person will keep herself up-to-date with legislation and thinking on handling children’s behaviour. This information will be discussed with staff and parents, opinions gathered and behaviour management adjusted and made more appropriate or better where and when required. Staff will have in-house training where new information will be disseminated as well as drawing on the expertise from others.
• All children are individuals and should be respected as such, whilst given equal opportunities
• Everyone; which includes, staff, students, peripatetic staff and parent helpers should provide a positive model of behaviour by treating children and each other with friendliness, care and courtesy, exhibiting good behaviour and examples of how we would wish for children to behave i.e by not sitting on the tables, by sitting and eating with the children etc..
• Anyone who is new to Discovery will be familiarised with this policy.
• This policy will be enforced consistently.
• When children behave in unacceptable ways, we help them to see what was wrong; allow them time for discussion and reflection and how they can cope more appropriately.
• We never send children out of the room by themselves as a punishment.
• All children should be invited/encouraged to participate in all activities, ensuring that no stereotyping or gender placement occurs. (A child’s right not to participate should be respected.)
• Children’s personal and social development is to be encouraged to develop i.e. ‘please’, ‘thank you’, thinking of others, being kind and caring, able to have time to express themselves and talk freely, sharing and turn taking, not misusing equipment, to bring their interests to the group etc. This should be encouraged and supported in a kind, friendly manner.
• Children should be approached by all staff members in a professional, kind and caring manner.
• Staff speaking to children should do in a calm, appropriate manner; bending to their level and speaking slowly and clearly, repeating instructions as required.
• Staff should be helpful to the children at all times, although allowing them independence to learn for themselves, to build strategies for accomplishing tasks and to grow in self esteem and confidence.
• Staff should not, unless preventing that child, another child or another member of staff from accident or injury, remove any child from his/her environment in a forceful manner.
• Discovery does not use smacking, a ‘naughty chair’, shaking or any other physical or emotional ‘punishment’ to discipline children. The use of the word ‘naughty’ should not be used in any circumstance. Children will not be threatened with any of these either.
• Staff should respect the children’s privacy where appropriate e.g. when toileting.
• Staff should be responsible for providing a caring safe environment in which children learn and develop, taking into consideration multiculturalism, religious or other beliefs and special needs/requirements.
• Staff will work in conjunction with parents, making every effort to listen to their concerns and questions.
• Staff should recognise that partnership with parents is vital if children are going to flourish.
• We do not use techniques intended to single out and/or humiliate any child.
• In cases of misbehaviour, such as racial or other abuse, we make clear immediately the unacceptability of the behaviour and attitudes, by means of explanations rather than personal blame.
• We do not shout or raise our voices in a threatening way to respond to children’s behaviour, nor do we use threatening, overpowering and intimidating body language.
• We handle children’s unacceptable behaviour in ways which are appropriate to their ages and stages of development – for example by distraction, discussion or by withdrawing a child from a situation where necessary.
• We work in partnership with parents who are always informed about their child’s behaviour. We work with parents to address recurring, unacceptable behaviour; making mutually convenient times for confidential meetings, offering childcare so that meetings can take place before, during or after school so that jointly we can work through a helpful and acceptable programme together.

Equal Opportunities

Discovery strongly supports the right for equal opportunities and will do everything that we can to ensure that equal opportunities are being practiced throughout the school. Every family will be respected, accepted and welcomed at Discovery, regardless of colour, race, religion, nationality, disability or ethnic origin.

Special Needs

Discovery staff are constantly being trained to recognise children who may need special education or monitoring. In such cases, the Principal or Special Needs Co-ordinator will be informed and any concerns will be discussed with the parents. From this point, the Special Needs Code of Practice will be followed at all times. A copy of this document is available to all parents upon request.

Health And Safety

The security, health and safety of yoru child are of utmost importance to Discovery. As part of our on-going staff training, we ensure that there is always a qualified First-Aider on the premises and the accident book is kept up-to-date and available for all parents to see. Discovery makes all staff and other professional persons entering the building aware of any allergies that chldren may have, to keep risks to a minimum. The premises are always secure; external doors are locked and boundary fences are in good repair. Throughout the classrooms, equipment is in good order and easily accessible to the children to prevent accidents.

Illness

If your child has any infectious illness, eg. Chicken Pox, Head Lice, Impetigo, etc., please inform a member of staff as it is a policy of Discovery Montessori School to inform other parents of such outbreak. If your child has had sickness and/or diarrhoea, we operate a 48hr exclusion policy; that is children should not return to school until 48hrs after the last bout of illness. Prescribed antibiotics also requires a 48 hour exclusion and will commence from the first dose of treatment. If you are in any doubt about your child attending school due to illness, please do not hesitate to contact the school for advice.

Medicines

As a nursery school, Discovery does not, as a matter of coruse, administer any Paracetamol suspension to children. Should a child come to school and throughout the course of the session be found to have a high temperature (usually 38c or above), we will telephone the parents/carer of the child and ask that the child be collected. While we are waiting for the parents/carers to arrive, we will remove some of the child's clothing and sponge his/her body with tepid water to lower the temperature.

Medicines such as antibiotics for prolonged illnesses, asthma inhalers, etc., will be administered if requested, but only on completion of the appropriate form.

Payment of Fees

Should any parent experience difficulty paying school fees, they should ensure that they see the Principal of the school immediately. Any discussion regarding this matter will be dealt with in the strictest confidence where, as a school, we will do what we can to help.

Late Collection of Children

Two members of staff will remain at school with any child who has not been collected. We will make every attempt to contact parents and all emergency contacts for 45 minutes, whilst constantly reassuring your child. However, after 45 minutes, we will contact necessary professional agencies, for example Social Services, to inform them that we have a child who has not been collected.

Complaints

Should any parent/carer have any reason to complain, we would suggest that they following procedure applies: 1) speak to the classroom teacher, 2) speak to a deputy manager, 3) Speak to the Principal (Sarah Morton)

Communication is vital and necessary for a happy partnership with parents and children. If at any time, you wish to discuss any issue directly with the Principal in the first instance you are of course more than welcome to do so.

If any parent would like to contact Ofsted, they may do so on 0845 6014771
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