23/01/2020
OUR POLICIES:
The Otherwise Club's ethos means the club's activities try to be spontaneous and flexible without having to adhere to written standards directed by people who do not attend the club. With this in mind we have written 'A Shared Framework' which is below
At the same time The Otherwise Club takes it responsibilities toward vulnerable people of all ages very seriously and in that regard has a child protection policy that is annually reviewed. We also make sure key volunteers are trained in dealing with difficult situations of all kinds.
To see the policy click here
The Otherwise Club's Shared Framework
All the children at The Otherwise Club are being educated at home. This does not mean, however, that all adults at the Club have the same ideas. We come from different backgrounds, different cultures, and we have different philosophies.
At the Club, we try to respect people’s differences. At the same time, we all have a common interest in the well-being of our children in this small community.
The Club is based on certain principles, and these are (mostly) written up in the following guidelines. Please read these carefully.
If you are interested in joining the Club, please make sure that you, and any other adult carer who may come to the Club with your child/ren, agree with these guidelines, equal opportunities and child protection policies before signing the membership form.
Signing the form commits us all to respecting these guidelines.
(The guidelines can be changed by members, but changes will generally be within the spirit of what follows).
Behaviour not allowed at the Club:
Threatening or insulting behaviour.
Language which discriminates on the basis of race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
Encouraging others to harass, discriminate against, or exclude any other individual or group.
The possession of any weapons of any kind, including catapults.
Resolving conflicts between Children:
People have conflicts. That is normal and natural.
Being involved in a conflict with another child, and learning how to resolve that conflict, is an important emotional and educational experience.
As parents, we are likely to have different styles of disciplining our children, and different ideas about discipline.
The Club must have, however, a shared framework of understanding on these issues, and a commitment by all of us as parents to work within this framework when we are at the Club.
The following guidelines set out the basic philosophy of the Club in this area. We recognise that most conflicts between children resolve themselves quickly without outside intervention by adults. The following guidelines apply to situations where adult intervention appears necessary.
Two fundamental principles
We do not permit the use of any form of physical punishment such as smacking or shaking.
We do not permit the use of any practice which humiliates, such as a ‘naughty chair’.
Some suggestions for adult intervention
Please see if those involved can sort things out for themselves.
If this doesn’t happen, try to offer independent non-partisan help if possible.
Try to hold back from intervening physically to stop someone from doing something. Only intervene physically only when there is an immediate danger of a child hurting herself/himself, or hurting another child.
When both sides of the conflict have cooled down a little, try to give them both a chance to give their own accounts of what has happened, and to tell each other how they feel
Implementing the guidelines
Because we are a self-help group, we are all responsible for the well-being of the Club. We all share the responsibility for resolving conflicts that arise, either between children and adults, or between adults and adults. Of course this doesn’t mean that we all have to be involved in resolving each and every conflict that comes up! What it does mean is that there is no one ‘in charge’ of the Club who has to carry the responsibility for implementing the guidelines: we are all responsible. Joining the Club means accepting this shared responsibility.
