• Do not in any way privately contact a child, this includes; texting, phone calls, and any social media platform.

• A team member must not be alone with children where they cannot be seen by others. We operate with a 'Two Team' Rule. This means that at ALL times we have at least 2 adult team members present in the room when a child is present.

• Ratios:

  • Crèche Team Adult/Child ratio 1:4

  • Preschool Team Adult/Child ratio 1:11

  • Primary Team, Kids Crew, Check In team Adult/Child ratio 1:20

• If you observe or expect that a child is being abused or neglected; you must speak to the City Kids Director or member of the Safer Churches team as soon as possible. If a child discloses abuse to you please remain calm and never promise confidentiality. Report this to your City Kids' Director as soon as possible.

Any physical contact should be age and developmentally appropriate. A City Kids team member should only initiate physical contact for the purposes of greeting a child or for the purposes of comforting a distressed child. Normal affectionate behavior initiated by children towards adults in City Kids is appropriate and should not be discouraged.

Appropriate interaction includes:

• High fives

• Pats on the back or shoulder

• Side hugs – if initiated by the child

Inappropriate interaction includes:

• Full body hugs

• Sitting child on shoulders

• Extended hugging, tickling or prolonged physical contact of any kind

• Lap sitting is only appropriate for children aged 2 and under. If a child is insistent on sitting in your lap, move them to sit next to you or sit on your knees so that they are not able to sit in your lap

• Don't do anything that has the potential to be deemed sexual

• Never touch a child in an area that would be covered by swimming attire

• Never kiss a child or coax a child to kiss you

• Never allow a child to touch you in a way that is inappropriate

• Nappies: we do not permit team members to change a child’s nappy. Nappies must be changed by a parent.

• One female leader is allowed to walk child to toilet alone, but must wait outside.

• Staff and team members will not assist directly with toileting, if assistance is needed contact the parent or caregiver. In an emergency, only a senior female team member will assist a child and this will be discussed with the parent as soon as possible. In this instance, the door is to remain open.

• If a child is injured in any way, please inform the City Kids Service Leader as soon as possible and fill out an Incident Report Form with as much detail as possible.

• Incident Report Forms can be accessed online via our Cityhope Team's Website

• All injuries, no matter how small, must be reported to the parents. All HEAD INJURIES must be reported! When filling out the report, please do not use any other child's name except the one whom the report is about.

• Deal with the accident lovingly and right away. Do not get the parent unless absolutely necessary. However, DO tell the parent about the injury when they pick up their child, regardless of how minor the injury.

• No medication is to be given to any children at any time by anyone other than their parent without permission of the City Kids Service Leader.

• If any biological material needs to be cleaned please use the gloves and antibacterial spray provided in the cleaning boxes.

We ask that parents not bring children to City Kids who are unwell. This includes but is not limited to children who:

• Have a fever

• Have had diarrhoea or vomiting within the last 24 hours

• Have any contagious disease such as chicken pox, bacterial conjunctivitis, hand foot and mouth

• Have any unexplained rashes

If you suspect that a child at City Kids falls within one of these categories, please inform the City Kids Service Leader.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT PLAN

The focus of our team is positive behaviour support. Any concerns in regard to a child’s behaviour please refer to the City Kids Service Leader or City Kids Director.

There will be zero tolerance for behavior that harms or endangers any person, including the child engaging in the behavior. Harmful/dangerous behavior will result in immediate removal of the child from the activity and personal family contacted by the City Kids Service Leader or City Kids Director.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Any behaviour management strategies require a City Kids Team Leader to implement or oversee.

City Kids operates on a 3-warning system. When given a third and final warning the child’s parents are to be contacted to remove the child from the program.

A City Kids Service Leader or City Kids Director must be immediately made aware of ALL warnings that are given out.

When is a warning given?

If a child behaves in way that opposes the ‘City Kids Rules’, is rude and disrespectful to a leader, or is physically or verbally abusive to another child in any way - they may be given a warning.

The Steps

The number one rule when working with children is that a child should be treated with respect, love, and support. Clear rules and expectations and consistent messages about behavior are the key to effective discipline procedures. Occasionally, children have trouble following the rules or display disruptive behavior. In these cases, the following steps will be taken:

1. The leader will state clearly what the problematic behavior is and what the child should do instead.

2. If the child continues to exhibit problematic behavior, the leader will give a warning to the child.

3. Upon the third warning, the child may be removed from the activity and a parent will be contacted.Unless otherwise discussed with a parent, the child will be welcomed back at the next scheduled activity.

Giving a warning

When a child is given a warning, it must be done in a manner that doesn’t embarrass or belittle the child in front of their peers. A leader should take the child discreetly to the side, explain how that behaviour is not acceptable and clearly state that it has resulted in a warning. Be sure to end the conversation with encouragement and remind them how valued they are.

Reporting misbehaviour to parents

It is important that both the child and family are treated with love and respect. Support and encourage the parents and tell them that you love the child, and hope to see them back next week.