CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator CACHE LEVEL 3 CHILDCARE & EDUCATION Unit 2 Children’s health and well- being © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events. AC 2.1 Identify transitions and significant events that a child may experience. AC 2.2 Discuss potential effects of transition and significant events on a child’s life. AC 2.3 Explain the role of the early years practitioner: in preparing a child for a planned transition in supporting the needs of children during transition and significant life events. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Starter activity LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.1] Time: 15 mins 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator 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 childminder. 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. Transitions and significant events © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.1]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Pairs activity Time: 15 mins Discuss the following: Consider the types of transitions a baby and child might experience. List significant events that a child might experience in their life. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.1]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator 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 © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.2]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Pairs activity 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? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.2]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator 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 © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Group activity Time: 15 mins In your group, choose one of the activities 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? 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? A child’s family is experiencing a break up and a divorce – how would you support a child through this transition in their life? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator 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 © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Classroom discussion activity 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 to identify his needs. Then consider how you can support those needs. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Independent research activity Time: 15 mins Research innovations that are in place in various settings and LEAs to support transitions for children. Evaluate the innovations and schemes that you have found – do you think they are successful or not? Make a note of your sources. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Extension activity Time: 15 mins Produce a poster with a spider 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. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.1, 2.2] Significant events ???

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator Reflection activity 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? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited LO2 Understand the needs of children during transition and significant events [AC 2.3]

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator In this lesson we: Have learnt what transitions are and the significant events that a child may experience through their early life. Have considered the potential effects that these experiences may have on young children. Have considered the role of the early years practitioner in preparing a child for a transition and reflected on some case studies. Have also thought about the role of the early years practitioner in supporting the needs of children during transition and discussed a case study. Have researched schemes which are in place in various settings to support and improve transitions and found examples of good practice. © Hodder & Stoughton Limited

CACHE Level 3 Early Years Educator 1.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? © Hodder & Stoughton Limited