Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills to Our Young Children Today to Change the Societal Attitudes of Tomorrow by Jenna Jefferies
For too long, compliance has been the only goal for children with developmental differences in education and society. In this blog post by Jenna Jefferies, she explores how teaching self-advocacy skills to neurodivergent and disabled children can empower them to communicate their needs and stand up for themselves. By presuming competence, explicitly teaching self-advocacy in early years settings, and creating spaces where children feel validated, educators can help shift societal attitudes from deficit-focused to celebratory-driven. Learn practical strategies for supporting children’s self-advocacy that will raise a generation confident in getting their needs met and create a more inclusive society that values neurodiversity.
Trauma Informed? Dispelling the Jargon and How You Can Make a Difference by Terri Mitchell
Explore the meaning behind common educational phrases like ‘Belonging Strategies’ and ‘Trauma Informed’ while discovering how to make a meaningful difference in children’s lives. Early years educator Terri Mitchell challenges us to shift our perspective on challenging behaviors and view them through a trauma-informed lens. Drawing from her extensive experience and training in Trauma Informed Schools, she explains how early childhood experiences shape brain development and why understanding trauma and attachment is crucial for every educator. This insightful post offers practical guidance on becoming an emotionally available adult who can positively impact children’s life outcomes.
The Importance of Self-Care Strategies for Staff, Children and Setting – Case Studies from the Early Years
In this blog post, by Dr. Louise Hannan, the complex emotional landscape of Early Years settings is explored through the lens of staff well-being and self-care strategies. Drawing from her experience as a practitioner, manager, and researcher, she examines how staff emotional well-being directly impacts children’s development through warm, responsive relationships. Through a case study with Bridgwater and Taunton College Childcare Centre, the research demonstrates how implementing simple self-care strategies can enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress, and create a more positive environment for both staff and children.
Promoting Positive Relationships through Relationship Mapping – Case Studies from the Early Years
Relationship Mapping, Attachment and Attunement in the Early Years is a training course delivered by Jacqui Lewis, an early years specialist. The Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub funded Jacqui to extend the delivery of this training to include our SPH area. The course explores the concept of relationship mapping, using sociograms to visualise relationships, and provides an opportunity to reflect upon the individual and pedagogical factors which influence adult-child relationships, and to consider how to strengthen relationships so that every child has a meaningful connection.
The Joy of Reading: How to Help Children Read for Pleasure Through Identity and Belonging by Esther Molyneux
When children learn to read, they gain knowledge, articulate ideas effectively, expand vocabulary, and enhance their attention span. However, literacy is more than a skill; it profoundly impacts children when they see a reflection of themselves, their identity, home structure, culture, and lived experience.
Nurturing Growth: The Importance of Physical Development in 2-year-olds by Katy Taylor
Understanding the significance of the physical development of 2-year-olds helps parents, caregivers, and educators provide the necessary support for healthy growth throughout childhood and later, adult life.
Making a Difference to Children Disadvantaged Through Poverty by Simone Barnes
The term disadvantage is one that is well known amongst early years professionals. The children’s commissioner describes it as “a term used to describe children facing barriers to success” but also acknowledges that the definition comes with complexities due to the many ways it can manifest itself. Despite the complexity of the definition, there is no doubt that we have a vital role in tackling disadvantage in the early years. Here, our focus will be on those disadvantaged through poverty.
Are We Aware of Babies’ Scientific and Mathematical Thinking? By Elizabeth Carruthers
Dr Elizabeth Carruthers is a researcher and author. Her main research interests are leadership, teacher practitioner research and she has published extensively on early mathematics. Her work on Children’s Mathematical Graphics along with her co-author, Dr. Maulfry...
The Magic of Emerging Literacy in the Early Years by Ali Carrington
With over 25 years of experience in early education, Ali Carrington delves into the critical role of communication and language in fostering a lifelong love for learning through play. The blog post highlights the importance of creating engaging and supportive environments that cater to children’s developmental needs, emphasising evidence-based approaches like storytelling, sound-letter mapping, and interactive reading to unlock the ‘magic code’ of literacy. Ali’s insights offer educators valuable strategies to inspire and motivate young learners on their path to becoming proficient readers and writers.
The Power of Inquiry – Adopting a Culture of Practitioner Research and Evidence-informed Practice by Jacqui Lewis
Do you want to learn how to create a culture of inquiry in your early years setting? Do you want to explore the power of practitioner research and evidence-informed practice? Do you want to hear from an expert in the field of inclusive early childhood education? In this blog post, Jacqui Lewis shares her insights and experiences on these topics.
Connection and Core Stories: How Storytelling Can Support Settling by Louise Scott
I wonder if you can remember your favourite story as a child? Even better, can you remember how it made you feel? Who was reading it with you? I loved stories. Reading them, writing them… they provided a creative outlet for my uncertain feelings and enormous imagination! Nowadays, I spend far less time reading stories than I’d like to. But I do notice that as adults, we never really stop telling ourselves stories…
Supporting Your Team to Embrace Neurodiversity by Ruth Glover
Being a leader of an early years setting at the moment is not an easy job. Staff retention and recruitment is challenging not to mention making funding and fees stretch to cover costs. Add in ‘covid’ children, cuts in support services that may have supported us in the past and we are in the middle of a perfect storm.
