By Richard Knight – Early Years Alliance Why do quality transitions matter?
Let’s talk about change
When children start at a new early years setting, each provider will have their own settling-in policy and might approach the settling-in process differently.
There will be similarities between groups, and some procedures will undoubtedly be familiar. Starting a nursery is a huge event, and most group providers and childminding professionals will agree that there is, on average, a two- to four-week settling-in period. As early years educators, we must remember that this isn’t linear or rigid because all children, especially the very young, will cope with change and new experiences in their own way, and some do better than others. It is important to consider this transition and value that it is a time when families and the key person need to work together in true partnership to meet children’s changing emotional needs.
Positive transition experiences help babies and toddlers cope with change throughout their lives. Key elements for educators to think about for effective and meaningful transition can include:
• The unique child • The key person • Change management • Communication • Coherence and continuity
The transition should be seen as a process – not an event. The individual child’s needs should be considered throughout, including each baby and toddler’s prior experiences, background, and development progress to date, all of which are used to shape those early days and weeks in the new setting environment.
The key person plays a vital role in managing and supporting the transition of babies and toddlers into any early years provision. Relationship building with the child happens from day one, and the key person should work to offer consistency and security during transition and times of change. Keeping the child at the heart of the process and making time for the partnership with the family is another crucial element of the key person role.
Preparing for transition and thinking about the procedure can help ensure a smoother process for all involved:
Communication – a shared understanding with consistency and expectations managed.
Paperwork – looking at how information is captured and shared from day one, using ‘all about me’ forms, personal details records, health and medical information and then considering the child’s learning journey and any assessment records that will be kept.
Transition procedure – time to understand who is coordinating the baby or toddlers’ transition, what information will be shared, and when. Much of this links back to communication and understanding from the family, which is the best way to contact and update them.
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For more ideas and inspiration visit
ypo.co.uk/littlelearners
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