Introduction to Early Years Mental Health – the role of the Early Years practitioner.
This training supports practitioners in early years settings to enhance practice that supports early years mental health for all. It includes evidence-based practices that support vulnerable children. It offers guidance in the assessment and provision for children who display challenging behaviour.
There are 3 sessions in total which enable you to select the topics most relevant to you.
Part 1: Understanding young children’s behaviour
Part 2: The practitioner as an emotionally available adult
Parts 1 and 2 are together as one workshop and support practitioners to:
- recognise the emotions at the core of high-risk behaviour and the role of the practitioner in ‘co-regulating’ with the child as a means to support the child ‘feeling’ their emotion rather than just ‘behaving’ it;
- to work with their own case study to develop a deeper understanding of the child’s behaviour;
- use practical strategies that can make a powerful difference to a child’s emotional ‘growth’ and support improvements in behaviour through relationship.
Part 3 Relationship-based provision
This is a separate workshop (from Parts 1 and 2) and is in two sections. Looking at current policy and research we consider how mental health can be enhanced in the enabling environment with a refreshing approach to behaviour policy and explore the therapeutic properties of the everyday early years resources and interventions.
Setting leads/ childminders will find this comprehensive workshop stands alone but also complements parts 1 and 2.
Practitioners are invited to review a model Wellbeing and Relationships policy which reflects current research and evidence-based practice. The Word version of this example policy is a free download within the workshop. Interventions that support relationship-based provision are considered alongside the practical strategies described in the first sessions.