Student Safety Protocol

A safety plan will be developed, in accordance with the protocols outlined below, when a SPIDER student demonstrates behavior that is harmful, unsafe, or significantly non-compliant (interfering with learning or organization) and safety becomes an issue. The Plan will be developed by the Teacher Consultant, in consultation with the parent and SPIDER Principal. SPIDER supports the opportunity for families to meet together to address issues that arise for their children, and to work through these issues using restorative practices that hold the child’s learning and safety at the forefront. In some cases SPIDER staff may be called to facilitate these discussions.

SPIDER continues to support the perspective that the parent is the primary educator of their children, and therefore assumes the parent accepts full responsibility for guiding and ensuring a safe learning situation for all children in consideration of the full SPIDER community.

Expected Safety Plan protocols to be followed by SPIDER staff and the parent community, should the need arise:

1. Following the confirmation of the safety plan with a parent that includes participation in “Learning in Community Days" at Camp Byng, Roberts Creek, or on field trips, the parent is to notify the teacher that they are intending to participate prior to the date, and to confirm attendance should a specific date for participation be identified.

2. Families whose child has been directly harmed by the action of another student will be notified that the child’s continued participation is dependent upon an articulated safety plan outlined below (ie a Safety Plan is in place). Should the Safety Plan include participation in “Learning in Community Days" and/or field trips, the date(s) the student will be present at either Roberts Creek Community Elementary or Camp Byng, or a field trip will be confirmed with the family.

3. Teachers must be confident the student and parent are aware of SPIDER behaviour expectations, consequences for non-compliant or unsafe actions, and supervision requirements. This may require a family to come early or meet with the teacher outside of programming time to discuss and review. If the student is unable to satisfactorily demonstrate their understanding of expectations, acts in an unsafe or overly impulsive manner, or the parent is not willing or able to provide the direct supervision required (when the student is not in the direct care of the teacher) then it will be determined by the teacher that the child will not participate and the family will leave. This is to occur each date the student is to participate.

4. The parent is expected to provide 1-1 supervision at all times both

inside, during sessions, and outside activities or free play time, with the exception being when the child is under the direct care of the teacher. Note: 1 – 1 supervision is where a parent is working or playing along side the child and is ready to redirect or intervene immediately when needed ie when the child is beginning to be frustrated or triggered – early signs.

5. The child is not to go to the toddler room; breaks, should these be needed due to escalating (but not yet unsafe) behaviour, will be taken with the parent at another location in the area and are not to involve free play with other students.

6. Generally:

• The child must be under the direct 1-1 supervision of the parent, or teacher at all times, including outside play time:

• The teacher will intervene should this level of supervision not be maintained, the parent will be directed by the teacher to re-establish 1-1 direct supervision (allowing room for unexpected circumstances for the parent). Should it be necessary for the teacher to provide a further reminder the family will be asked to leave. In this case, continued participation in the “Learning in Community Days” and field trips will be reviewed by school staff, including the principal. The child would not be permitted to continue participation until certain conditions have been met by the family;

• The parent will seek additional supports for their child to help him/her in learning self regulation and positive social play behaviors.

• Should a parent not be willing, or able to provide the participation/supervision requirements outlined above, the Principal shall be notified in order to review whether continued participation at Camp Byng, Roberts Creek Elementary, or on field trips will be in permitted and in the best interests of safety.

6. Review of conditions of participation: after several (a number to be determined based on the individual circumstances) participation days where there have been no incidents of concern, that involve harm (physical or emotional) to another, damage to property, or significant non-compliance, the participation safety plan (above) will be reviewed whereby a supported plan will be developed to allow for increasing independence. Families who have been specifically affected by the behavior of the child will be notified of the beginning transition to independence.