Unit 1.4 Promote children’s emotional well-being

Learning outcomes

• Identify transitions and significant events that a child may experience

• Describe potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life

• Explain the role of the early years practitioner in preparing a child for a planned transition

• Explain the role of the early years practitioner in supporting the needs of children during transition and significant life events

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events 3.1

Time: 15 mins silent debate • What do you understand by the term ‘transitions’?• What kind of transitions do people have in their lives? List

them.• How might we be affected by these?• Write a list of possible positive and negative effects of

transitions.• Using your sugar paper answer the questions above

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events 3.1

Transitions are changes or moves, in this case from one stage of life to another. The first transition that a child might make could be moving from home to a child-minder. How these transitions are handled by both parents/carers and practitioners is very important for the well being of the child.Significant events would be experiences in a child’s life that may affect their development such as the divorce of their parents.• Consider the types of transitions a baby and child might

experience.• List significant events that a child might experience in their life.

Transitions and significant events

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.1]

• Children will often be apprehensive about any changes, leaving the familiar and moving to somewhere new and unknown. Their worries may be simple such as ‘where are the toilets?’ or more deep seated, for example, worrying about bullying. If these concerns are not recognised and addressed, then a child’s learning and development may be affected.

• Significant events in a child’s life, for example, the death of a parent, can have a traumatising effect on a child unless they are recognised and addressed by the practitioner. The child may not always display signs of distress, but it is the practitioner’s duty to be sensitive to the needs of the child and be ready to support them where necessary.

Potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.2]

Time: 15 mins

Read the article on the Young Minds website entitled ‘Young Minds in Schools’.Discuss and answer the following questions:• Why might some children find it easier to cope with transition

and change than others?• How important is the concept of attachment when coping

with a transition?• How might a transition affect a child’s behaviour?

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events 3.3

It is very important for the practitioner to prepare the child for the forthcoming transition. They need to be sensitive to the child’s concerns and should try to answer all the child’s questions honestly.There are many ways that the practitioner can prepare the child for the transition, for example they can:• arrange visits to the new setting• use ‘circle time’ to address issues and concerns• empathise with the children, try to see things from a child-centred point of view• ensure that all information is passed on to the child’s ‘new’ teacher• create effective links with other practitioners, in case follow up support is

needed.

The role of the early years practitioner in preparing a child for a planned transition

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.3]

Time: 15 minsIn your group, complete your given activity below. Discuss how you would support the child in question and devise an action plan.• You are about to receive a child who has moved from another part of

the country – how do you prepare a smooth transition for them? Group 1

• You have a number of children who are moving from your placement (a nursery) on to a reception class in a different school – what steps can you take to ensure that you minimise any distress to them? Group 2

• A child’s family is experiencing a break up and a divorce – how would you support a child through this transition in their life? Group 3

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.4]

• As well as being aware of children’s concerns about transition, practitioners should also be sensitive to their needs.

• Children may not always voice their concerns, but their behaviour may be a sign that they are anxious, for example, bedwetting or regressive behaviours. The practitioner will need to identify exactly what the child’s needs are – they may need to learn some self-help or organisational skills, especially if they are moving on to primary school where there may not be the same level of adult support.

• Children may need to talk about their fears, cuddly toys can be useful here – the children can address their concerns to the cuddly toy, e.g. ‘Teddy is worried about changing classes, what are some of the questions that he has?’

The role of the early years practitioner in supporting the needs of children during transition

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events 3.4

Time: 15 mins

Josh is about to move from nursery to primary school. He has previously appeared to be a confident, friendly child. However, he has, recently, begun to become more ‘clingy’ to his key person and tearful at the end of the day. • What fears might Josh have?• Use these to help you identify his needs.• Then consider how you can support those needs.

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.4]

Time: 15 mins

Research innovations that are in place in various settings and LSAs to support transitions for children.• Evaluate the innovations and schemes that you have found –

do you think that they are successful or not?• Make a note of your sources.

Significant events

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 3.2]

Time: 15 mins

Produce a poster with a diagram to show the various significant events that a child may experience in their early life.

Explain how some of these events may affect the child.

Learning outcomes

• Identify transitions and significant events that a child may experience

• Describe potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life

• Explain the role of the early years practitioner in preparing a child for a planned transition

• Explain the role of the early years practitioner in supporting the needs of children during transition and significant life events

LO3. Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events 3.3, 3.4

Time: 15 mins

Prepare a questionnaire with questions about transition to ask your supervisor at your placement.Questions could include:• How do you prepare children for transition?• What policies and practices do you have in place to support

children through transition?• Have you ever had to support a child through a significant

event – how did you manage it?

Summary: plenary activities1. When you have interviewed your supervisor, evaluate the practices that

your setting has in place to support children during transitions.2. Do you consider their practices robust enough? Why/why not?3. How would you improve on their practices if you were writing a policy

on how to plan for transitions?

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