Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Aspects - Building relationships, Managing self, Self-regulation.

By the time children leave Small Wonders Preschool we want them to;

Feel happy, safe and confident, to be able to ask for help when needed and voice their preferences

and make choices.

Children develop strong relationships with their key person helping them to feel secure. Our settling

in process ensures all parents and children are introduced and spend some time with their allocated

key person in those all important early settling in days. Our routines promote a sense of security as

they can predict their day. Children are offered a range and choice of activities and resources to

develop their preferences, ideas and confidence. Our themes, discussion and resources enable

children to explore feelings and emotions, being able to recognise and express various emotions

while being supported by caring and sensitive staff.

Be able to make friendships; sharing, taking turns, respecting others and our resources.

Understand and work within our golden rules.

We provide opportunities for large and small group activities. We provide resources where sharing

and turn taking enhances the experience such as 2 seated rockers or simple turn taking games. We

develop an understanding of respect through discussing our golden rules which are displayed in

picture format. We are consistent with our expected behaviour and boundaries while being

supportive of children who may struggle with understanding this by using resources such as sand

timers. With the support of staff children are encouraged to resolve conflict, staff discuss the impact

of their actions and encourage reflection.

Progress checkpoints for Personal Social and Emotional development

2-3 yr olds

• Curious about their surroundings

• Wants to be noticed by you

• Starts to see themselves as a separate person

• Makes their own choices, requests and decisions.

• Wanting to be more independent and doing things for self.

• Separates from carer with support

• Sits for group time with support

• Joins in snack with support

• plays alongside others, enjoys company of others and may attempt to join in play

3-4 yr olds

• Sometimes manages to share and take turns with adult guidance and understanding yours

and mine

• Will stay with an activity for a while.

• Chooses activities and resources

• Talk about own feelings

• Beginning to understand how others may be feeling

• The child participates in pretend play

• Participates in role play

• Increased social interactions with other children

• May have a special friend or seek out friends.

• Understands our golden rules

• Beginning to talk to others to resolve conflict

• Joins in with large group activities with increasing independence and interaction

• Increasing independence skills

• Awareness of own toileting need