Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years Conversations to Empower Children, Professionals, Families and Communities

“Now and again, a book comes along that, as you turn each page, feels like you’re involved in a rich, heartfelt conversation between two old friends. This is one of those books: incredibly readable, instantly relatable and threaded throughout with wisdom and insight. At a time when the early education sector is struggling to put childhood and positive relationship at its centre, each chapter contains the reassurance and the ‘story’ of why we need humanness in our practice more than ever. I found myself nodding along with Jamel and Sonia time and again as they conversed – they have created a truly heartwarming, indeed soulwarming, Early Years book – you will be an even better practitioner with its companionship.” Greg Bottrill, author and childhood advocate “This book deftly unpicks the intricacies of building positive relationships in early years practice through each author’s own experiences of supporting children, families, colleagues and the wider community. Sonia and Jamel’s life histories within the profession provide a valuable contrast and illus- trate the diversity of childhood practice. Yet, they also draw attention to a number of fundamentals in creating a sense of belonging, safety and security with young children and their families. This book further provides a novel refection on the multiple pathways that can lead to a career in the early years, including both the joyous moments and the chal- lenges of such a journey. Overall, it is a text that will appeal to all those in the profession who are drawn to furthering their knowledge and understanding of positive relationships in practice.” Shaddai Tembo, lecturer in early childhood practice, trustee for early education and for the Fatherhood Institute, and an independent writer and speaker at Critical Early Years “This unique union of minds brings much needed perspec- tives into our sector. A stark reminder that, no matter what knowledge and experiences that we bring to our role, we are all dedicated to placing children at the heart of our practice. The authors capture the essence of the adult-child relation- ship, describing everyday connections that spark emotion in children and adults. This book provides detailed examples of interactions that may seem unremarkable to those outside of the sector, but they are a fascinating insight into the very important role that adults play in families’ lives. A glaring reminder of the need for a valued and varied workforce. This book helps us to consider wider issues that affect the communities that we serve and our role as early years edu- cators within that. This book reminded me of my ‘why’. Why we do what we do.” Alison Featherbe, early years trainer and consultant: learning and development Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years In this unique and original book, Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton come together to have an open and honest conversation about developing positive and responsive relationships in the early years. The book is divided into three main chapters – building positive relationships with children; with other professionals; and with families and the wider community – and each conversation explores a range of key themes, from building trust and listening to the voice of the child, to diversifying practice and creating a setting that represents the wider community. These discussions encourage the reader to consider the connections we make every day, to rethink and empower their practice, and to place a much higher value on their position as an early years advocate. With refective questions included to allow the reader to think about their own practice, as well as suggested further reading to explore the themes in more depth, this engaging and accessible book is a must-read for all early years professionals – and, importantly, encourages every practitioner to begin new conversations of their own. Jamel Carly Campbell is an early years educator, early years consultant and aspiring children’s author. Early years is his speciality, and he has been in the industry for over 20 years. He has also worked in youth clubs and schools, and mentored children with SEND. Jamel is one of the UK’s Men in the Early Years ambassadors and has featured on CBeebies “Tiny happy people” as an Early Years advisor. Sonia Mainstone-Cotton is a freelance nurture consultant. She currently works in a specialist team supporting 3- and 4-year-olds who have social, emotional and mental health needs. She also trains staff across the country, working with children’s centres, schools, nurseries, charities and churches. Sonia has written eight books. Little Minds Matter: Promoting Social and Emotional Wellbeing in the Early Years Series Advisor: Sonia Mainstone-Cotton The Little Minds Matter series promotes best practice for integrating social and emotional health and wellbeing into the early years setting. It introduces practitioners to a wealth of activities and resources to support them in each key area: from providing access to ideas for unstructured, imaginative out- door play; activities to create a sense of belonging and form positive identi- ties; and, importantly, strategies to encourage early years professionals to create a workplace that positively contributes to their own wellbeing, as well as the quality of their provision. The Little Minds Matter series ensures that practitioners have the tools they need to support every child. Outdoor Play for Healthy Little Minds Practical Ideas to Promote Children’s Wellbeing in the Early Years Sarah Watkins Supporting the Wellbeing of Children with SEND Essential Ideas for Early Years Educators Kerry Payne Supporting Behaviour and Emotions in the Early Years Strategies and Ideas for Early Years Educators Tamsin Grimmer A Guide to Mental Health for Early Years Educators Putting Wellbeing at the Heart of Your Philosophy and Practice Kate Moxley Supporting the Wellbeing of Children with EAL Essential Ideas for Practice and Refection Liam Murphy Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years Conversations to Empower Children, Professionals, Families and Communities Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years Conversations to Empower Children, Professionals, Families and Communities Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton Cover image: Raul Hillers, aged 4, enjoys drawing pictures using different forms of media and mark making implements. He gifts his masterpieces to his peers, family and teachers First published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2023 Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton The right of Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton to be identifed as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book ISBN: 978-1-032-06248-8 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-032-06246-4 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-20137-3 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003201373 Typeset in Optima by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India Contents Foreword xi Introduction 1 1 Building positive relationships with children in your care 5 2 Building positive relationships with other professionals 31 3 Building positive relationships with families and the wider community 57 Conclusion 85 Index 99 ix