Way of being Thinking about, understanding and responding to children’s ‘way of being’ policy for Hastings Adventure Playground ( HAP)
At the playground we want to ensure that staff are aware of and trained in the appropriate use of interventions where what children are doing becomes an issue. This will involve staff in observing and reflecting on children’s way of being to distinguish between what is playing and what is not. This may result in staff deciding that immediate intervention is not appropriate and thus allow children the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to deal with and resolve any problems with what they are doing or conflict with others, for themselves in line with accepted playwork practice.
Staff will create a positive and welcoming atmosphere on the playground and always be approachable. At HAP we aim to:
• Encourage children to respect and care for their physical environment
• Enable children to gain the skills to resolve conflicts for themselves
• Provide a framework for staff to use to ensure consistency in the ways they support children
• Enable everyone to develop a sense of caring and respect for others and build caring and co-operative relationships with others
• Help children develop a range of social skills and learn what constitutes acceptable behaviour in different environments
• Support children to develop confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement
Playground staff will intervene when children’s way of being becomes unacceptable or a child is feeling threatened and unsafe at the playground. What we consider unacceptable includes fighting [but not fighting that is part of play]; bullying (physical, emotional or verbal); racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and other oppressive behaviours and attitudes; abusive and threatening behaviour; vandalism and theft. We will also intervene when children are causing harm to others or themselves or likely to do so.
Staff will communicate in a clear, calm and constructive manner with any children who raise concerns. Where necessary, staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try and help them discuss and resolve their issues. Children who experience or witness bullying or other oppressive and prejudicial behaviours will be supported and helped in a way that is suitable for that child.
In the event that the unacceptable way of being does not stop, more serious action may have to be taken and the playground may contact the child’s parent/caregiver to discuss with them what is happening and, as a last resort, the child will be asked to leave the setting – this may be for an agreed length of time or until certain actions have been completed.
In instances where damage has been done, either to another child or to equipment and the premises, the child will be asked to make reparation before they can return. Reparation is the process of making amends for what someone has done wrong. It is more than just saying ‘sorry’ and requires the person who has done the wrong to recognise what they have done and to find out what they have to do to ‘make things right’ for the victim. This will require a dialogue with the victim [and their family] to find out what they will consider to be sufficient. Reparation takes an active engagement and is therefore not an easy process. The victim may not want to engage initially, especially if they think it will be physically or emotionally unsafe for them to do so.
Playworkers try to intervene in what the children are doing as little as possible and when they do, they take a ‘minimum intervention, maximum response’ approach.Playworker intervention is supported by playwork theory and our underlying principles.