The Big Transition

As every parent knows, July represents a period of huge change and potential emotional stress for children as the end of the academic year approaches. Some children will perhaps be feeling sadness at finishing their ‘year’ with their favourite teacher tempered with excitement for the long summer break ahead; or they may already be feeling nervous about starting a new class in September? Others may be feeling dread at being at home over the break with little to do – a feeling perhaps shared by their parents who have no plan for filling up the 6 long weeks! Whatever the children’s feelings may be, positive or negative, the ground will have been laid by their experiences in their early years, particularly from their first major transition from preschool to ‘big’ school.

School Ready

Early years practitioners recognise the importance of strong resilience, mental health, and wellbeing in supporting these transitions, enabling children to cope with the inevitable changes that lie ahead. As part of the early years’ curriculum, practitioners plan to ensure that the children are ‘school ready’ but too often there is a lack of understanding about what this really means. To be sure, it is not about being able to read and write before they make their merry way through the school gates into Reception. Instead, it is absolutely about the children having the confidence to face a new environment full of new faces and challenges.

Supporting Resilience

In early years settings practitioners encourage the children to make connections, build relationships and help one another through simple, fun activities and positive reinforcement. Learning to become independent, for example simple but essential skills such as doing up your own buttons, putting on your own shoes, taking themselves to the toilet, all promote self-care and self-esteem. Enabling children to self-regulate their own behaviour, problem-solve, and understand change through gentle guidance, role modelling, storytelling and circle times, all form part of the early years practitioner’s vital role in supporting children’s positive mental health and wellbeing. Of course, practitioners develop this knowledge and skills through their regular training but, as part of continuing professional development, we are offering a new knowledge-based qualification designed for learners who wish to understand more about mental health in young children in the early years and their valuable support role.

NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health in the Early Years

Aims to focus on the study of mental health within the context of young children in the early years and offers a breadth and depth of study, resulting in a Level 2 Certificate. Delivered remotely over 3 months by a 1:1 assessor/tutor and using our virtual learning resources SBSOnline, learners will have the opportunity to work flexibly whilst developing their own resources for use in setting.

Nowadays thankfully many of us recognise the value of supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing in our daily lives but surely the focus must be on promoting this right from the start, in the early years, to ensure lifelong resilience.

ENROL NOW – For more information about how to enrol on the course and achieve the Level 2 qualification contact Joy or Julie HERE