Misconduct & Disciplinary Policy and Procedure

Managing misconduct in an ECE service requires a fair and consistent process, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of tamariki remains paramount.

This ready-to-use Misconduct & Disciplinary Policy and Procedure provides ECE leaders with a clear framework for responding to concerns about employee conduct, from minor misconduct through to serious misconduct.

The policy includes specific guidance for serious misconduct involving teachers, aligned with the Teaching Council Rules, including conduct that may adversely affect the wellbeing or learning of tamariki, call into question a teacher’s fitness to teach, or bring the teaching profession into disrepute.

The policy covers:

• Misconduct and serious misconduct
• Teaching Council serious misconduct criteria
• Teaching Council reporting requirements
• Informal resolution of minor conduct concerns
• Fair disciplinary investigation procedures
• Employee representation and right to respond
• Preliminary and final decisions
• Written and final warnings
• Dismissal, including dismissal without notice where appropriate
• Confidentiality and disciplinary records

Designed specifically for New Zealand early childhood education services, the policy provides a practical foundation for managing conduct concerns fairly while meeting professional and employment responsibilities.