2. What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone”
because stress activates cortisol secretion.
Cortisol is important for normal bodily
function, however too much is bad.
It is detected in a simple urine or saliva sample.
Young children can suffer with high Cortisol levels
in the brain from long periods of stress.
Crying, separation from parents and high levels of
stress when things go wrong at school can have a
high impact on childrens learning.
4. Continued
Children who have high stress levels often
fail to thrive in class or enjoy school.
They can even continue with the stressed
feelings at home, at bed times or even on
the way to school if they are not well
settled or enjoying school, it can even
affect behaviour, eating and sleeping. In
the most extreme cases children might
not talk.
5. Starting school or a new class
Many children experience upset when they face
transitions into new schools or classes.
This can be displayed as crying, angry outbusts
, the silent child or misbehaving in class, even
taking out their frustration on other children.
A child who is tense, stressed, angry or upset
does not settle well into school and can not learn
and play properly, this bad feeling can follow into
future grades and can cause problems in learning
and behaviour.
This is why a “settling in proceedure” is
imperentive to children`s learning and emotional
well being.
6. How is “settling in” done?
A home visit by the Teacher/Assistant is positive if
possible. This way the child first meets their
teacher in a setting they find safe and secure.
The Teacher can find out lots about the child
during this visit, favourite toy, color or animal.
This will make both parent, teacher and child feel
more relaxed about meeting eachother for the
first time.
Chats should be kept informal, friendly and
nuturing, play a game or listen to music, paying
most attention the the child, rather than the
parent.
7. Day 1 and 2
Teachers set up the classroom with plenty of
play activities, painting, playdough, toys etc.
Parents stay with their child for one hour
and explore the environment with their
child.
The teacher may wish to finish off the hour
with a story/singing session.
If the class size is very large, these days may
be alternated, half the class comes Monday
and Tuesday, the other half Wednesday and
Thursday. Or an hour in the AM/PM.
8. Day 3 and 4
When the child seems more confident in
the classroom, the childs key worker and
their parent will explain that the parent is
leaving for a short time (10 minutes at
first)
This should be done after 30-45 minutes
of the child and parent playing together.
The parents says “goodbye” to the child
and leaves out of sight for ten minutes
(no sneaking off!!!)
9. Continued
When the parent returns, both child and
parent go home, this way the child learns
that it is not home time until the parent
returns.
Lots of love, cuddles and reassurance
should be given to children and
sometimes parents too!
10. Days 5-14
A similar process to day 3 and 4 should
be followed until the child seems more
happy and secure about being left alone.
Its important to remember that not all
children will need 14 days to settle, some
may only need 1 day.
It is important that parents do not stay in
class for too long and the process is
completed by day 14 at most.
11. What is a keyworker and why is it
important?
All children form bonds and attachments
with adults and it is important in the early
years that these adults are not too big in
number.
Forming healthy bonds and attachments is
important for emotional well
being, behaviour and learning.
Each child should have their own
keyworker, this member of staff should do as
much as possible to be the one responsible
for the child.
12. Keyworker duties
Settle the child
Comfort the child
Be the one who seperates them from their
parent
Spends time with the child
Works on the childs independence
skills, toileting, dressing etc.
Build a positive relationship with the child
Feed back to the parent on the childs progress
Of course, this might not always go to plan, a
child may be naturally attracted to hanging out
and talking with a different teacher!
13. Important!
Remember that the most important thing
for a young childs learning and school
start is NOT:
How much work you do!
How neat, tidy and well behaved children
are
How nicely you sit still and listen
IT IS: about being emotionally
secure, happy, eager to learn and excited
about coming to school!
