C210 Providing Positive Guidance Home-based

This editable Word policy meets NZ home-based criterion C210.  This clear, practical Positive Guidance Policy is designed specifically for home-based ECE services, aligned with New Zealand regulatory expectations and best-practice child-centred approaches.

This policy supports educators and coordinators to guide children’s behaviour in a respectful, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive way—without punishment, shame, or exclusion.

What this policy covers

• A strengths-based approach to guiding children’s behaviour

• Clear expectations around respectful, safe, and inclusive interactions

• Age-appropriate strategies for supporting emotional regulation

• Guidance on responding to challenging behaviour calmly and consistently

• Support for children’s social competence, mana, and wellbeing

• Alignment with Te Whāriki principles and values

• Clear statements around prohibited practices (e.g. physical punishment, isolation)

• Shared expectations between educators, coordinators, and families

Why this policy works

• Written specifically for home-based settings, not centre-based copy-paste

• Easy to understand and implement in real homes with mixed ages

• Supports ERO expectations and internal evaluation evidence

• Professional, warm tone suitable for sharing with families

• Fully editable to reflect your service philosophy and language

Who it’s for

• Home-based ECE providers

• Educators working from their own homes

• Coordinators supporting consistent practice across networks

• New services needing compliant documentation fast

What you’ll receive

• 1 professionally written Positive Guidance Policy (editable document)

• Ready to use immediately or customise to your service

This policy helps create calm, respectful learning environments where children feel safe, valued, and supported to develop lifelong social and emotional skills.