PSED Development in Early Years

Personal, Social and Emotional Development in the Early Years

The EYFS Statutory Framework states Children’s personal, social and emotional development (PSED) is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives, and is fundamental to their cognitive development. Underpinning their personal development are the important attachments that shape their social world. Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others.

The Early Learning Goal at the end of Reception involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings and personal care; and to have confidence in their own abilities so that they lead healthy and happy lives.

At Atherstone/Bedworth Heath Nursery School we value how important it is for children to have a positive sense of themselves, respect for others, social skills, emotional well-being and a positive disposition to learning. We break Personal, Social and Emotional Development down into three areas:

Emotional development - Emotional development helps a child to understand that everybody has their own feelings and that feelings are perfectly normal and acceptable. It also helps them to understand that these can sometimes feel overwhelming but that they can be managed most of the time if they talk them through with you or another adult. Finally, developing emotionally enables children to understand that other people have feelings which may not be the same as their own. Empathising with others in the early years is key to being a considerate person throughout life.

Social development - Social development helps a child to be part of a family or group and to become friends with other children. Getting along with others has been shown to be highly significant for children's mental health, because acceptance by others is so important to making your way in life. It is also important because it helps children learn the rules or customs of their own culture and how to treat other people appropriately.

Self Care – Managing ones self care is about having the confidence to try new things and show independence, resilience and perseverance in the face of challenge and understand right from wrong. It also about children being able to manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs, including dressing, going to the toilet and understanding the importance of healthy food choices and the importance of oral health.

We carefully plan the children’s personal, social and emotional development skills through identifying gaps in learning, age related milestones, Individual Education Plans and the children’s interests. Some of the ways in which we do this are:

We follow Warwickshire’s approach of Protective Behaviours – parts of this include teaching children to identify their early warning signs, use correct terminology for body parts and using the language of safe and unsafe with our children.
Our staff have all been trained on the Trauma Based Approach.
We have safe spaces for children to access independently to regulate their emotions or to access some quiet time.
We teach PSED through circle times and stories. Some of our favourite books include The Colour Monster, Owl Babies and The Underpants Rule.
We also offer interventions if needed such as confidence groups, nurture groups and sharing groups.