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Ava arrives for her first full day at nursery. Her key person Claire is there to greet her and support her to settle in. Mum and Ava have been to the nursery together a few times.

Good for looking at

The key person approach

Settling in

Transitions

Separation anxiety

Parents anxieties separating from their child

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Essential attributes of a key person - clip 1 - Siren Films

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Ava arrives for her first full day at nursery. Her key person Claire is there to greet her and support her to settle in. Mum and Ava have been to the nursery together a few times.

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Two year old Heidi has been out in the garden with the nursery class when there was a sudden down pour and a thunder storm. They came inside to get out of the rain. Heidi becomes distressed and the practitioners and other children help to comfort her.

Good for looking at

Social and emotional development

Supporting children with their fears

Developing empathy

Sustained shared thinking

Understanding the world

Notice

How do we know how Heidi is feeling through out this clip? (Look out for non-verbal and body language as well as spoken language)

How is she learning? Which areas of development, engagement and characteristics of learning can you observe?

In what ways do the adults support the children's learning?

Reflect

What are your thoughts about:

What and how was Heidi communicating?

The role of the adult in this interaction - how did she support Heidi to manage her strong feelings?

What the other children learned through this experience?

Respond

What would you do to:

Support Heidi's understanding of her fears?

Encourage other children to support Heidi?

Extend Heidi's learning - e.g. learning more about how the world works, weather, storms etc.?

Model behaviours for young children and show how useful they are? Could you talk about your own fears and how you over came them?

What next:

Do you know how to support children with their fears? Do you need to find out more about supporting and validating children's emotions?

Are you good at supporting and listening to children with difficult emotions? Could you support other's in your team and share your good practice?

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Two year old Heidi has been out in the garden with the nursery class when there was a sudden down pour and a thunder storm. They came inside to get out of the rain. Heidi becomes distressed and the practitioners and other children help to comfort her.

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Peter Elfer talks to Julian: what is a key person? 

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Peter Elfer talks to Julian: what is a key person? 

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We'd love to hear your feedback on today's session - it will only take a moment! 

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We'd love to hear your feedback on today's session - it will only take a moment! 

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Online PD from the Mayor's Early Years Hub in Newham

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Hanifa at Sheringham NSCC shares her advice - 'Thinking about children coming back to nursery'

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Hanifa at Sheringham NSCC shares her advice - 'Thinking about children coming back to nursery'

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Thinking about children coming back to nursery pt 2

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Tell us your thoughts and ideas or share something. Just click + in the bottom right corner - it's nice and easy.

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Tell us your thoughts and ideas or share something. Just click + in the bottom right corner - it's nice and easy.

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 Hi everyone, welcome to our session today on children's emotional wellbeing in the early years - Julian and Lindsey

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 Hi everyone, welcome to our session today on children's emotional wellbeing in the early years - Julian and Lindsey

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Julian.grenier@sheringham-nur.newham.sch.uk
lindsey.foster@sheringham-nur.newham.sch.uk

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Social and emotional aspects of development in the EYFS

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Social and emotional aspects of development in the EYFS

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Key Persons in the Early Years by Peter Elfer and others 

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Key Persons in the Early Years by Peter Elfer and others 

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Advice from the Anna Freud Centre for staff and parents

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Advice from the Anna Freud Centre for staff and parents

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Their challenges are our challenges

A recent 2020 survey by the Anna Freud Centre has revealed that a high proportion of nursery workers have experienced working with children facing extremely complex backgrounds and challenging emotional and behavioural needs. Many admitted that they had found these needs difficult to manage.

Domestic violence, parental substance use, abuse and bereavement were listed as some of the issues affecting the children in their care. Other challenges involved different emotional or mental health needs. The effects of the pandemic were also a cause for concern for some of the respondents.

According to the survey, many nursery staff feel under-prepared for this side of the job and wanted more access to training.

The survey received responses from over 900 UK nursery staff during the last three months of 2020. Its findings feature in the attached report,Their challenges are our challenges:

Have you noticed signs that some of the children in your care have been affected by the pandemic and lockdowns? If so you may be wondering if others have noticed the same signs. One of the questions we asked when producing our Their challenges are our challenges report asked whether they felt children in their care had been affected by the pandemic, and if so, how.

Click here to read about the seven common themes that emerged from the feedback we received. We've also included some other observations that were offered to us by nursery staff, some of which may surprise you.

The pandemics effect on the mental health and wellbeing of the under 5s in early years settings

Helping under 5s through the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting everyone, including babies and young children. They might be affected by the anxiety of their parents and carers, huge changes to their routine, or by a variety of losses, like not being able to see family members or no longer having contact with playmates. If you are a parent or carer with a young child under 5, there may be ways you can help to support them through this difficult time.

This content was reviewed in March 2021.

Helping babies and young children under 5 through the coronavirus crisis

Top tips for parents and carers

Families play a hugely important part in supporting each other at times of uncertainty or concern especially as you will probably be spending more time together due to home working, school and activity closures, and other public health measures.

This pdf provides some simple advice and guidance to parents and carers to help support your child through the various changes they are experiencing and worries they may have during the pandemic.

Download our tops tips pdf

Transitioning to nursery or reception after lockdown

Lockdown has led to many children under 5 being unable to access nursery, reception, or other early years settings. In this episode we explore the impact of changing routines on under 5's, to help you to think about how you can understand and support your child if they are starting at a new school or nursery, or returning after a period of absence.

Skye Blyth-Whitelock from the Anna Freud Centre discusses children's experiences with an Early Years Locality Leader, working for a Local Authority, and a nanny, working with young children.

Join Early Years in Mind
The Early Years in Mind learning network is a free network for early years staff and practitioners. By joining the network you will have access to termly newsletters and events, updates on current research, thinking and training, in regards to the mental health and wellbeing of babies, infants and their families.

View Early Years in Mind.

Register to join Early Years in Mind.

How can early years workers support families and children to return to early years settings?

How can childcare workers support families and children to return to early years settings?

During the pandemic, babies and young children have been impacted in a number of different ways. Some childcare settings have been closed or have experienced severe staff shortages, some families haven't felt safe for their children to be in childcare arrangements, and some families could no longer afford to pay to send their children to childcare settings.

It is clear that our youngest children have been greatly affected by the pandemic. As schools and early years settings re-open or resume face to face activities, childcare workers can support your children through these changes to their routine and increased time spent away from the family and with other people. This will help your child to adjust to these transitions in a way that is more manageable for them.

The following booklet was reviewed and updated in March 2021.

Child in Mind podcast

Our Child in Mind 'Bonding with your baby' podcast explores what it means to securely bond with your baby, how this bonding can affect your child's development as well as useful advice for parents to support this bond.

Presenter Claudia Hammond is joined by Dr Linda Mayes, the Arnold Gesell Professor of Child Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology in the Yale Child Study Center and expectant mum, Rhian Filbey.

Listen to Bonding with your baby

Advice for professionals working with young children

Services working with children and young people are well aware of the uncertainty which communities are facing, and the impact this could have on mental health. There are ways in which you can provide key support in your own setting in the midst of changing times.

Working with babies, young children and families on digital platforms

Download advice for professionals working with children

Protecting children in the time of COVID-19:

Working digitally with risk, uncertainty, and loss

A series of professional learning spaces created by the Anna Freud Centre to explore the challenges and opportunities of working with vulnerable children and families during the global pandemic.

Chair: Nicola Labuschagne

Anna Freud Centre Speakers: Gema Hadridge, Anna Freud Centre Ellie Geater, Team Manager, Hackney Childrens Services Sarah Jones, Social Worker, Hackney Children's Services Dr Denise Turner,

Chair: Nicola Labuschagne

Anna Freud Centre Speakers: Gema Hadridge, Anna Freud Centre Dr Aaron Balick, Director, StillPointSpaces Dr Amanda Tayler-Beswick, Queens University, Belfast

Coronavirus: Keeping in mind the children of high conflict separated parents

Dr Emma Morris of the Anna Freud Centre urges professionals to keep in mind the children of separated parents during the coronavirus lockdown. While the challenges are many, this should not lead to a loss of support. We can play a huge part in helping parents mediate, mobilising networks and checking in with the child.

Read the blog here.

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Coronavirus Support for Early Years | Coronavirus support for Nursery | Anna Freud Centre

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Their challenges are our challenges A recent 2020 survey by the Anna Freud Centre has revealed that a high proportion of nursery workers have experienced working with children facing extremely complex backgrounds and challenging emotional and behavioural needs. Many admitted that they had found these needs difficult to manage.

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Reflect

What are your thoughts about:

The value of this type of interaction for Heidi?

The role of the adult in this interaction - how did the adult support Heidi?

The importance of the choice of book for Heidi?

Respond

What would you do to:

Support Heidi's understanding of the world and calm her fears about thunder?

Extend Heidi's learning - emotions are intrinsically linked to learning and feeling scared at nursery after the storm could be a powerful experience for Heidi which could be remembered as a fearful or a powerful learning experience. How could you develop her understanding further?

Model reading skills for young children and show how useful they are?

Could you talk about your own fears and how you over came them?

What next:

Do you need to encourage more of this kind of caring, supportive, interaction for all of the children in your setting

Do you need to make changes to make spaces inviting for sharing books together?

Do you know enough about the value of allowing children to share books in a relaxed warm environment? How do you manage this in your setting?

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Heidi looks at book about thunder - Siren Films

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What are your thoughts about: The value of this type of interaction for Heidi? The role of the adult in this interaction - how did the adult support Heidi? The importance of the choice of book for Heidi? What would you do to: Support Heidi's understanding of the world and calm her fears about thunder?

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Sign up to Siren Films - it's free for 30 days and you don't need to give any bank details https://www.sirenfilms.co.uk/pricing/

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Sign up to Siren Films - it's free for 30 days and you don't need to give any bank details https://www.sirenfilms.co.uk/pricing/

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Returning to nursery blog - includes links to Sheringham's Risk Assessment and Operational Plan

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Returning to nursery blog - includes links to Sheringham's Risk Assessment and Operational Plan

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So everyone, I hope you'll excuse the hurried writing of this blog. What with DFE advice coming in the middle of a bank holiday weekend and trying to get a short break before June, this has been yet another strange and difficult week.

I am really privileged to lead a great team at Sheringham Nursery School and Children's Centre.

Here's what we're doing about our re-opening. I'm sharing our information freely. Please let me know if you find it useful. But also, please let me know if you think it could be made better, or if you think anything is wrong. No-one has the monopoly of wisdom here.

We know our young children can't learn to 'social distance' - to be honest, I would be worried if they could learn that. It would go against every grain of being two, three or four years old. So our way of minimising risks is through the 'bubbles', and careful cleaning and management of the spaces. We will continue to play with our children. We will continue to give them hugs and cuddles. If they fall over and hurt themselves, we'll be there with loving care. Our usual First Aid and other protocols are still in place to prevent any kinds of infections spreading.

Here's how we are explaining this to families

Here's how we've explained that to families:

We're very aware of the children's social and emotional needs. Returning to nursery is going to be great for some - at last, a chance to see my friends and my key person! But for others, it might be distressing and difficult. I'm going to be sharing some thoughts about that as soon as I can.

Where possible, we are keeping every child with their key person. Where that isn't possible, children will be with a member of staff they know well. We have colour coded that so we can see quickly that we have managed a good balance across our groups - so that there is a 'core' of children with their key person to give a sense of security and calm.

Finally, we've listened to the voices of the parents who have been using our provision throughout the lockdown period. We've learnt a huge amount from them. They've been patient with us as we have 'road tested' different approaches and they've helped us to improve our Operational Plan.

Here are some of things which parents have told us:

More on what we're doing:

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So everyone, I hope you'll excuse the hurried writing of this blog. What with DFE advice coming in the middle of a bank holiday weekend and trying to get a short break before June, this has been yet another strange and difficult week.

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Settling in policy - Sheringham Nursery School and Children's Centre 

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Settling in policy - Sheringham Nursery School and Children's Centre 

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Support for clip library members during the Covid-19 outbreak

The 30 day free trial is now available without the need for payment details. We have also added a learners account which is just £49 per year. If you are a student just get in touch and we can send you a 30% discount code. Any existing customers with an Early Years Professional Membership to the clip library who would like to give remote access to your team and learners just get in touch, and we will add users to your account free of charge. If you are a new customer and want to have access for your team the Education package has been reduced to £99 giving you up to 30 learner accounts free of charge.

Free trial & Pricing information

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Child Development video based training - Siren Films

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The 30 day free trial is now available without the need for payment details. We have also added a learners account which is just £49 per year. If you are a student just get in touch and we can send you a 30% discount code.