This term North East Lincolnshire Council’s Community Educational Psychology Team was delighted to deliver the pilot ROOTS (Relationships, Observation, Outcomes, Trust and Support) programme for Early Years practitioners across North East Lincolnshire.
ROOTS was developed to support practitioners in understanding how young children learn through play, relationships, emotional security and responsive adult interactions, while providing practical strategies that can be used every day in early years settings.
ROOTS was commissioned through the Early Years Team and made possible through Public Health funding in North East Lincolnshire.
Councillor Samuel Grice, deputy leader and portfolio for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “This investment reflects a shared commitment across local services to supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing from the earliest years, recognising the important role that skilled, reflective practitioners play in helping children thrive.
“The pilot brought together practitioners from a range of settings to learn, reflect and share ideas with one another.
“Feedback was incredibly positive, with all participants reporting that they had gained what they hoped to from the programme.”
What has been most exciting is hearing how practitioners have already started putting their learning into practice.
Sharing examples of using simpler instructions, asking more thoughtful questions, responding with greater empathy, and adapting environments and routines to better support children’s learning and development.
Practitioners particularly valued the practical activities, opportunities for reflection and the chance to learn alongside colleagues from other settings.
One participant shared:
“I have found the whole programme very informative and have thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
As we come to the end of the pilot, we would like to thank all of the practitioners who took part with such enthusiasm, openness and willingness to reflect on their practice.
Their feedback will help shape the next phase of ROOTS, and we are excited to continue supporting early years practitioners to create environments where children feel safe, connected, curious and ready to learn.
ROOTS continues next year, with the additional partnership of the NEL Virtual School that supports the educational achievement of children in care and previously looked-after children, strengthening the foundations for children’s learning, wellbeing and development across North East Lincolnshire.
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