APPENDIX 7
BOVEY CASTLE GC
Managing Challenging Behaviour
Staff/volunteers who deliver sports activities to children may, on occasions, be required to
deal with a child's challenging behaviour.
These guidelines aim to promote good practice and are based on the following principles:
• The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration.
• Children must never be subject to any form of treatment that is harmful, abusive,
humiliating or degrading.
• The specific needs a child may have (e.g. communication, behaviour management,
comprehension and so on) should be discussed with their parent/carer and where
appropriate the child, before activities start. Where appropriate it may be helpful to
record the details of any agreed plan or approach and provide copies to all parties.
• Every child should be supported to participate. Consideration to exclude a child from
activities should apply only as a last resort and after all efforts to address any challenge
have been exhausted, in exceptional circumstances where the safety of that child or of
other children cannot be maintained.
Planning Activities
Planning for activities should include consideration of whether any child involved may need
additional support or supervision to participate safely. This should address:
• Assessment of additional risk associated with the child's behaviour
• Appropriate supervision ratios and whether numbers of adults should be increased
• Information sharing for all/volunteers on managing any challenging behaviour to
ensure a consistent approach
• Specialist expertise or support that may be needed from carers or outside agencies.
This is particularly relevant where it is identified that a child may need a level of
physical intervention to participate safely (see below).
Agreeing Acceptable and Unacceptable Behaviours
Staff, volunteers, children, young people and parents/carers should be involved in developing
an agreement about:
• what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviour (code of conduct)
• the range of sanctions which may be applied in response to unacceptable behaviour.
This can be done at the start of the season, in advance of a trip away from home or as part
of a welcome session at a residential camp. It should involve the views of children and young
people to encourage better buy in and understanding.
Where challenges are anticipated in light, for example of a child's impairment or other
medical condition, a clear plan/agreement should be established and written down.
Ensure that parents/carers understand the expectations on their children and ask them to
reinforce this ahead of any trip or activity.