Matakids Safe Child Policy & Procedures Matakids Club has a no-nonsense policy, of which the staff, children and parents are all informed. Staff are happy to have productive conversations with parents if they see any particular behavior forming. We get one shot at helping to raise well-rounded children and our motto is ‘Good Manners and Kindness are always in Fashion’. The Matakids Club staff treats children with respect and expect it to be returned with good clear boundaries so that we all enjoy our time together. We encourage Matakids Club children to continue the school philosophy of MAGIC (mature, articulate, goal-driven, inquiring and caring). We also support older children in improving their meditation skills by allowing them to take turns running afternoon activities. BSC starts at 7am until 8am and ASC starts at 2.40pm we collect children from the meeting area for our programme. If beautiful weather, we take children over to the back courts so that they can have their Afternoon tea (apples, carrots and celery), and let them run off some steam, while the school buses depart. We move back into the heart of the school (playground) around 3.30 pm. We keep the children mindful that the teachers are in their classrooms preparing for the next day. They are encouraged to consider others. Children get to do their homework on a Monday (as most homework is sent home that day) and then can enjoy free play, dance and movement or relaxed reading until 4pm. From 4pm until 5pm, we have a college student come to run fun games, sports and drama games. In the summer months, we get to enjoy the swimming pool. For one term we have a no TV policy, children play board games together and interact with different age groups through shared play. Matakids Club operates from the backstage of the Matakana School hall. A large room with natural light, a covered deck, a toy area, and a large bathroom with complete disabled access. The Hall is adjacent to a large outdoor playground where the children play daily. Matakids Club offers a nurturing, relaxed and safe environment similar to home, an excellent space for children to chill out and feel like they are at home spending time with their friends and siblings. The toy area provides space for the children to have quiet time with LEGO, cars dolls etc. In the main room, children can work on their Matakids Club scrapbooks, play air hockey or have relaxed reading time on beanbags. Children who are engaged in meaningful activities and experiences are less likely to encounter difficulties with managing their behaviour. Matakids Club Management will ensure adequate staffing ratios of 1 to 13 children. Strategies are in place to regularly assess the environment and programme. Activities are varied and are age-appropriate and enjoyable. Daily routines are well organised, appropriately timed and pleasant to participate in. While children are provided with opportunities to engage in individual, small group and larger group activities. Our staff maintain a fair, positive approach to children and their behaviour, and are all mindful of the children's energy levels. We have a cool down relaxation time from 4.45 p.m. until the children are picked up. Staff are familiar with the Behaviour Management policy after completing the 'Safe Child' online course, and they are trained in child protection. Children are affirmed by developing positive relationships with staff. Matakids Club focuses on positive encouragement with children with our main goal of "Good Manners and Kindness are always in fashion". At no time will staff engage in any practice that is detrimental to the physical and emotional well-being of the children. This includes punishing children by physically hitting, being abusive, demeaning or using condescending comments. We have clear rules and boundaries of acceptable behaviour which staff and children are aware of. At the beginning of each term, programme staff will remind children of the rules set for the programme and discuss the reasons for these. Programme rules will be based on respect for each other, staff and equipment, buildings and school property. For inappropriate behaviour, staff will firmly remind the child what is expected. If the behaviour continues the child will be reminded again and warned of the consequences that will result. If the child continues after two warnings the consequence will be enforced. Consequences must be appropriate and may include: -being removed from the activity and put into ‘time-out’, that is the child will be made to sit away from the group in a visible spot for a period set by the staff member. Before the child returns to the group the staff member will review with the child what behaviour is expected. - having physical boundaries reduced (e.g. when a child continually leaves the defined boundaries). - Not being allowed to play with a certain piece of equipment (e.g. when a child continually misuses that piece of equipment). If a child continually displays inappropriate behaviour, parents will be notified and will be asked to support the staff in their attempts to encourage appropriate behaviour. If a child continually behaves in a manner that endangers themselves or other children, despite the above measures, parents will be notified by management and asked to remove the child. When children conflict with each other, staff will encourage the children to resolve the situation themselves and assist by making suggestions on how to do so. If children cannot resolve the conflict they will be removed from the situation. Children will only be physically restrained if their immediate safety or the safety of other children is at risk, if verbal commands have failed and if it's not possible to remove all other children from the area at the time. When a meeting has been requested by Matakids staff with the parents to discuss the child's decline in behaviour and the parents do not show or communicate with the staff, that child and any other siblings will no longer be welcome at Matakids Club. Personal belongings, wireless gadgets, compact discs, Game Boys etc will be left in the children's school bags. Should items be brought, Matakids Club will not accept responsibility for the loss or damage of personal belongings. Full information about the child’s requirements including medication, diet and supervision requirements must be obtained from the parents and included with the child’s enrolment form. Any updates to a child's medical condition must be given to Matakids management for them to put appropriate measures in place. Matakids management will take responsibility to ensure that all staff are fully aware of the child’s requirements and that they feel confident to provide necessary care. If the child will require further special aids, for example, modified facilities, extra staff or staff training the staff will consult with the manager who will make the final decision. Each case will be considered individually and every effort will be made to include the child within the limits of the programme’s resources. All families must complete the enrolment form before the child can participate in the programme. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the co-ordinator of any changes to information on the enrolment in writing. Drop off and pick up Adults authorised to drop off children must text their children's names to the staff when the child is walking onto the grounds. The staff will send a text back to the parent once they have them in their care. Adults authorised to pick up children must sign their children out of the ASC programme in way of a text. In keeping with our contactless pickup system. If a child is not collected at the end of a programme, these steps will be followed: A staff member will remain with the child. The parent and or emergency contacts will be contacted and the Manager informed. Parents may be charged a late pickup fee of $2.00 per minute of lateness unless it was not the parent's intention to be late due to traffic or weather conditions. Matakids Club staff has the right to refuse a parent/caregiver collection of a child if a staff member suspects that the parent/caregiver is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs that have impaired the parent/caregiver's cognitive and rational ability. In this circumstance another person on the collection list will be phoned to collect the child and if appropriate authorities will be notified (if the parent is operating a motor vehicle). An incident report will also be written to keep on file and a copy handed on to the principal to take further action if needed. Alternative pick up of the child. Parents must inform staff if a person who is not listed on the child's authorised pick-up list will be collecting the child. Staff will not release a child to a person who is not identified on the authorised pick-up list. If an unauthorised person comes to collect the child, parents will be contacted for authorisation before releasing the child. Staff will explain this to the unauthorised person before phoning the parent, to ensure there is no misunderstanding. Written permission from parents must be given to leave the programme unaccompanied in the form of a text. Absences: Parents need to notify staff if a child is absent from the programme. This can be done by telling the staff or manager in advance or by texting before 2:30 p.m. to advise their child will not be attending. Non-arrival at BSC and ASC The following steps will be taken if a child does not arrive at the BSC programme: Parents will be telephoned/texted. If parents are unavailable, emergency contacts will be called. If a child is a no-show the parents will still be invoiced. The following steps will be taken if a child does not arrive at the ASC programme. Staff will check with other children if the child is at school then they will conduct a thorough search of the immediate area, including their classroom and will check with their teacher. Parents will be telephoned. If the child was booked in and still a no-show the parent will be invoiced. The school absence information will be checked with the office if we can not get in touch with parents. If parents are unavailable, emergency contacts will be telephoned and the school informed. In an extreme case when the child was at school and booked into Matakids Club and cannot be located, the local police will be contacted for a search to be started. The programme will ensure staff and child confidentiality. The programme will comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1993 at all times. Any information, e.g. enrolment and staff information forms will state why information is collected and what will be done with the information i.e. emergencies, birthdays, health and safety of the child. No information is shared except with the owner’s permission or as required by legislation, e.g. Health and Safety Act. All files holding confidential information will be duly secured and kept away from unauthorised persons. All personal information shared in discussions between staff or at meetings is to remain between those persons. Parents will be informed on enrolment that there is a complaints procedure. In general, if parents have complaints about the programme or staff members they should first approach the manager who will attempt to rectify the situation. (The director of Matakids Club may be approached initially if preferred.) If the parent is still unhappy they should then contact the Director. If not satisfied with the outcome, a complaint must be made in writing to the school principal and must contain details of the grievance and desired outcomes. The principal will respond to the complaint. Where possible a mutually agreeable outcome will be sought. The Director of the Matakids Club will keep the staff informed of any verbal complaints received and recorded in the daily diary. If a staff member has requested a meeting with parents and that meeting has not been kept the staff member will inform the principal, so that he/she is aware of the situation. Parents are the first role models for children. The choices parents make, and the behaviours we exhibit, have a significant influence on their children. The programme has a clear expectation of children's conduct and we require all parents to follow our code of conduct at all times when at the programme and when talking to staff. The Parent Code of Conduct of speaking with respect relates to parents, grandparents, caregivers and other visitors to the programme. There will be occasions when conflict may arise between students. Parents must encourage their children to seek appropriate solutions for themselves, which may involve discussion with a staff member or management. Communicating with respect is the only way forward. It is expected that social media will be used to build community and contribute to a positive dynamic among parents. The programme will always communicate with parents about programme changes by email or text or on the Matakids Club Facebook page. When enrolling their children parents will be informed of the sun protection policy. We request that parents ensure a suitable hat is in their child's bag during the summer months. We also request permission to use SPF30+ broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen on their child. Parents must inform Matakids of any allergic reaction to sunscreen and must provide an alternate sunscreen if necessary. Encouraged to provide extra SPF3O+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen in their bag. Asked if their child had any allergic reaction to sunscreen. Requested permission to use sunscreen provided by Matakids Club