Mini INSET Session: Sleep and Rest

Sleep and rest are essential to babies’ and young children’s development. They support learning, physical health, emotional regulation and wellbeing, and rest is also a right: Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises every child’s right to relax and play. The updated EYFS statutory framework sets out clearer requirements for safer sleep, so this is a good time for settings to look closely at their routines, policies and practice, and to check that everyone in the team knows what the guidance says and why it is in place.

This staff meeting template, created by the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub, gives you everything you need to run a focused, practical session with your team in 45 minutes. Through four activities, your team will discuss why sleep and rest matter, explore the different types of rest using the Diverse Pathways Rest for Regulation resource, reflect on section 3.86 of the EYFS alongside The Lullaby Trust’s Safer Sleep Awareness guide, and consider what sleep time might feel like from a baby’s perspective. You will also find key questions on sharing your sleep policy with families, recording whether a baby was born prematurely and agreeing what a safe sleep check involves. Follow-up prompts then help you review your policy and revisit your actions at the next staff meeting.