Prohibited Practices
Kids Come First strives to ensure that children have a safe and positive experience that promotes their growth as a learner. To this end, Kids Come First will observe Educators interactions with children ensuring that they align with the program statement and with Kids Come First’s expectations regarding positive child-adult interactions. All Centre employees are prohibited from the following practices under the Child Care and Early Years Act:
- Corporal punishment (physical punishment such as hitting, spanking, kicking, heavy pushing, shoving, grabbing, squeezing arms, ears, etc.);
- Physical restraint of the child, such as confining the child to a high chair, car seat, stroller or other device for the purposes of discipline or in lieu of supervision, unless the physical restraint is for the purpose of preventing a child from hurting himself/herself or someone else and is used only as a last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent.
- Deliberate harsh or degrading treatment that would humiliate a child or undermine his or her self-respect;
- Depriving the child of basic needs (i.e. food, shelter, drink, sleep, toilet use, clothing, and bedding);
- Inflicting any bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will;
- Locking the exits of the Centre for the purpose of confining the child; or confining the child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such confinement occurs during an emergency and is required as part of the licensee’s emergency management policies and procedures.
- Inflicting any bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will;
- Sexual abuse of a child;
- Sexual misconduct involving a child;
- Engaging in or permitting prescribed sexual acts, as defined under the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, and any applicable legislation.
The Centre maintains a zero-tolerance approach to any form of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, exploitation, or prescribed sexual acts involving a child. These behaviours are strictly prohibited under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA), and Ontario Regulation 137/15 applicable legislation, and this policy. Any allegation, suspicion, or disclosure of such conduct will be treated as a serious matter and will be addressed immediately in accordance with the Centre’s Child Protection Policy, Serious Occurrence Policy, Duty to Report obligations, and any other applicable legal or regulatory reporting requirements.
Corporal punishment and other harmful disciplinary practices are forbidden in order to protect the emotional and physical well-being of children. These practices are never permitted at the Centre. Rather, the children benefit from an affirming approach that encourages positive interactions with other children and with adults, rather than from a negative or punitive approach to managing unwanted behavior.
Contravention of Prohibited Practices and Positive Interactions
- Any child care employee, students or volunteer observed using disciplinary measures that contravene the Child Care and Early Years Act shall be reported immediately to the Supervisor/Executive Director. He or she will take immediate steps to investigate the alleged incident.
- The Centre Supervisor/Executive Director will conduct a meeting with the Employee/student/ Volunteer immediately at which time the Supervisor/Executive Director will ensure that the incident is documented, and a copy is placed in the person’s file. Depending upon the severity of the conduct, the Supervisor/Executive Director may implement progressive discipline in accordance with Centre policy.
- Any further instances of contravention, Executive Director will meet with the employee/student/ volunteer and implement progressive discipline up to and including termination. The nature of the contravention of this policy may require the Supervisor/Executive Director to report the incident to the College of Early Childhood Educators or to the Ministry as a serious occurrence.
- Documentation will be kept and filed at each step.