A CURRICULUM FOR CHILDREN AGED 0 – 3 YEARS

Pre-birth to Three - Positive Outcomes for Scotland’s Children and Families identifies four key principles: Rights of the Child, Relationships, Responsive Care and Respect.

RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Stated within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): children should be valued and respected at all levels and have the right to have their views heard and acted upon.

Children’s rights are defined in many ways, including a wide spectrum of civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights.

The main principles are dignity, privacy, choice, safety, realising potential, equality and diversity. All children have the right to thrive and be nurtured by adults who promote their general wellbeing, health, nutrition and safety.

RELATIONSHIPS

Healthy relationships begin before babies are born; they are born with a predisposition to form relationships and make connections based on positive relationships with others.

Love is essential in building close and companionable relationships with babies and young children. Welcoming smiles, hugs, consistency and reassuring communication help babies to develop trust and understanding that their needs will be met.

RESPONSIVE CARE

Responsive care means knowing and accepting children and respecting that they are unique individuals.

As a result babies learn to trust adults around them and are more likely to feel secure within themselves.

Adults need to demonstrate a sensitive and caring approach. Time, communication, body language and facial expressions are essential if children are to feel, safe, secure and valued.

A keyworker system enable our staff to build close, one-to-one relationships with young children and their family.

Responsive care means getting to know an individual child and ensures best practice meets individual needs.

Five To Thrive

We already know that parents are the most important people in children’s lives, but recently we have discovered something even more amazing……….we have discovered that how a parent behaves around their baby in the first three years of the baby’s life has a significant impact on how their baby’s brain develops. This is the foundation of how the brain will work as the child grows up and becomes an adult. Healthy brains mean babies are more likely to be happy and successful as older children and adults.

The 5 Building Blocks

Respond . Cuddle . Relax . Play . Talk

Pikeman Nursery is committed to developing positive relationships and healthy attachments for babies and young children with parents and caregivers. More information is available within the centre.