A behaviour policy explains how you help children learn to get on with each other, and what you never do. The EYFS says you must not give or threaten corporal punishment, and you must not use any punishment that could hurt or humiliate a child. Everything else is yours to describe.
What it should cover
How you teach behaviour. Praise, clear boundaries that are the same every day, and explaining why. With young children, most of the work is noticing what they do well and saying so.
What you never do. No physical punishment, and nothing that could hurt or humiliate a child.
Holding a child. The EYFS allows physical intervention only to prevent harm, to the child or someone else, or serious damage to property. Record it and tell the parent the same day.
Working with parents. How you'll talk to families if you're worried, and how you agree an approach so the child hears the same thing at home and with you.
What helps in practice
Routines do much of the work. Children who know what comes next, and who've been told what's expected before it matters, rarely need reminding. Ofsted judged behaviour and routines Strong at my inspection, and the thing I'd point to is consistency: the same few rules, said the same way, by both of us.
How it looks in your contract
From a GoChildmind contract
Behaviour. I help children learn how to behave through praise, clear and consistent boundaries, and by explaining why. I never use or threaten physical punishment, and I never use any punishment that could hurt or humiliate a child. I will only hold a child to stop them hurting themselves or someone else, or causing serious damage. If I do, I record it and tell you the same day.
Put your own details in, freeRead the full sample contract
Questions people ask
Can childminders use time out? The EYFS doesn't ban it by name. Any approach must not hurt or humiliate a child, so if you use quiet time, describe it in your policy and how it supports the child to calm down.
Do I have to tell parents if I hold their child? Yes. Record it and tell them the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.