Helping Children SHINE to School and Beyond – Working with Children of All Ages From Toddlers to Teens.
Little Stars Pre-school & Nursery
PROVIDING STAFF TRAINING AND ON-GOING GUIDANCE TO A PRE-SCHOOL AND NURSERY SETTING IN HERTFORDSHIRE SURROUNDING SUPPORTING BIG FEELINGS IN THE EARLY YEARS.
Little Stars Pre-School and Nursery
Support took place in the setting over a 4 – week period and included:
Why Support was Needed
The manager contacted us as she had identified a need for additional support around children’s emotional development and well-being within the setting. Practitioners had highlighted challenges in recognising and responding to children’s emotions, particularly around helping children to identify and express feelings safely and appropriately. There was also a need to strengthen practitioners’ confidence in modelling emotional regulation and validating children’s experiences, ensuring that all interactions promote a sense of security, trust, and belonging.
Supporting Professionals
- Understanding emotional development in the early years.
- Recognising emotional cues and behaviours as communication.
- Supporting children through co-regulation and validation.
- Using language and tone to help children name and manage feelings.
- Practitioners reflecting on their own emotional responses and the messages they send to children.
Supporting Families
- Sharing strategies for supporting children’s emotional expression at home.
- Using positive language to explain children’s behaviours.
- Reinforcing consistency between home and setting, helping children feel understood and supported in both environments.
Supporting the Whole Setting
- Improved staff confidence and cohesion when responding to emotional needs.
- A calmer, more nurturing environment for children.
- Enhanced communication between staff and families about emotional development.
- A shared understanding of the importance of role-modelling empathy, regulation, and positive interactions.
Our Impact
- Increased confidence in supporting children through emotional moments.
- More consistent use of emotion-based language in everyday interactions.
- Fewer behavioural incidents as children feel heard and validated.
- Stronger relationships between staff, children, and families.
The manager emphasised that the training will have an ongoing, lasting impact on the emotional climate of the setting, promoting a culture where feelings are accepted, named, and supported.