Putting families first

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

To mark this year’s annual conference, we asked families to share examples of the support they have received from their setting. These are just some of the wonderful responses we received…To mark this year’s annual conference, we asked families to share examples of the support they have received from their setting. These are just some of the wonderful responses we received…

We entered with a very complex situation with our grandson, taking him on full time with disabilities, additional needs and trauma. Since he has been going to his setting, with the support of the team, he has come on leaps and bounds and has so much more confidence. Not only have they been there for him, they have also given me amazing support too. I don’t think we would have reached the goals we have without them.

I’ve never doubted the setting or the colleagues and there’s a smile on my daughter’s face every time she walks through the doors. As a mum, that reassures me and enables me to feel positive about her time and journey.

The setting has given her so much more confidence and helped her with her speech too. She has become so confident and such a character. She has also become very on the ball with routines and loves getting wet, muddy, dirty, and having great fun.

Our setting has supported all three of my children in early years settings, especially my daughter, who they helped towards a diagnosis of ASD. They spotted the signs and put forward assessments and referrals and without them I don’t think she would have thrived the way she has in Reception this year.

They not only support the child but also the parent – having someone to talk to about my daughter’s diagnosis took a weight off my mind and having that support took some of the weight off my shoulders. I didn’t feel alone and had someone with the knowledge to guide me to the right information and help.

I’m not sure where we would be without this caring, amazing team in our lives who support us as a family. The care our daughter receives is over and above, and her needs are always met. She is included in all activities with the other children and strong friendship bonds are built as a result of the team’s interaction with all the children.

Even when our daughter was poorly over the winter months, the setting dropped off a Christmas crafts bag and sent several messages checking in on us as family.

"We will support you", our nursery headteacher has said to us countless times. These are joyous words to hear when you are raising young children. And how our nursery has supported us! With much-needed guidance on sleep, advice on the transition to primary school, help with our child’s fine motor skills and suggestions on the most effective language to use to really reach our child.

Our nursery is so intelligently run. They have thought of everything. And they have had a transformational effect on our family.

My nursery was the biggest support to me during the hardest time of my life. I had three children go through nursery and was there three times a week for years. I saw the ladies there more than friends or family.

Every time they welcomed me with a smile, shared funny stories about my children, we cried, happy and sad tears, and they supported me through autism diagnosis for my twins. We watched my babies grow from nine months to pre-school graduation. Now they all have left, we still drive pass nursery and share funny stories, and the children and I love to get out their learning journals and read all the funny observations and wonderful photos. It was a magical time and I hold the nursery building and wonderful ladies in my heart forever..

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Top-notch training: Level 5 qualifications

Monitoring maternal mental health

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Under 5 magazine

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