Statement
All children and young people have the right to be in a calm secure, supportive and nurturing environment, which allows them the opportunity to develop respect for self, along with respect for other people’s needs, opinions and property. To this end our strategies for promoting positive relationships will be based on a philosophy of solution orientated and nurture principles approaches to endeavour to make things better together.
Rationale
Children and young people should feel happy, safe respected and included in the nursery environment and all staff should be proactive in promoting positive relationships within the playrooms, outdoors and within the wider community. Our policies and practice ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in our Nursery. As a staff team we encourage and show understanding of how children’s behaviour is communicated through various types of behaviours. We offer opportunities through play to help children express their feelings in a positive way and encourage respect for themselves and others. This will help children to become Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens, Successful Learners, and Effective Contributors.
Aims
Communicating a positive approach towards children’s emotional wellbeing.
Reflecting realistic expectations of how children’s behaviour is communicated.
Supporting children to have a positive sense of self, developing children’s self-esteem and celebrating their successes.
Help children to develop communication and language and negotiation skills.
All staff are aware of the Nurturing Principles, and these are our golden thread in creating our warm inclusive nurturing environment.
When a child presents with distressed behaviour, we stay calm, keeping our voices quiet and be aware of our own body language. It’s important we self-regulate and model this with the children.
Set a good example by role modelling positive relationships and be consistent in our approach.
We will treat each child with respect and dignity.
Provide an interesting and enabling environment that meets the needs of all our children.
Staff Role
To support children to negotiate with each other and problem solve together.
Our Practice is based on the following nurture principles.
1 Children and young people’s learning is understood developmentally
The classroom/ school offers a safe base
3. The importance of nurture for the development of wellbeing
Language is a vital means of communication
All behaviour is communication
6. The importance of transition in young people’s lives
Success Criteria
All staff are aware of the guidelines in this policy document and adhere to the content
We should see staff confidently support all children
Children should feel supported to regulate their emotions
Practitioners should feel supported and heard by the SLT when faced with ongoing dysregulated emotions from a child
Feedback from Care Inspectorate will determine the efficacy of this policy
Created 3rd December 2025 Stephanie Glen Acting Head of Nursery