Early years approach to be rolled out in Lewisham
Posted: 10/03/2022
What is it?
5 to Thrive
is an approach developed by Kate Cairns
Associates which frames emotional/social development within brain growth
and neuroscience. Using the popular 5 a day approach to healthy eating, this
is 5 a day for healthy relationships and brain development the building blocks
for a healthy brain.
-Talk Play Relax Cuddle Respond
How does this relate to Lewisham?
In
November, a 5 To Thrive Conference was held at University Hospital Lewisham.
With an opening address from Frankie Sulke, Executive Director, Children and
Young Peoples Directorate, and Kate Cairns and Carmel Duffy from UNICEFs Baby
Friendly initiative (Lewisham is working towards Baby Friendly
Accrediation). After the morning of talks, there was a workshop session for
Childrens centre staff to think about how to apply these ideas in their
settings.
Frankie spoke about resilience and protective factors and
how 5 to Thrive can be part of early
attachment and strong parenting. Lewisham currently has, Best EYFS results
in the country in 2014 (apart from the Isles of Scilly!) which is a great achievement. However Frankie
tells us, there is still more to do, and 5 to Thrive may be a way to support
working parents, families and within services. Some interesting stats about
Lewishams Childrens Centres can be found here.
Kate Cairns spoke of
her experience as a social worker and foster parent; she set out some
interesting case studies- such as how a mother who had been through the care
system was able to learn, with support of staff, how to interact and develop a
relationship with her daughter. Her previous child had been adopted, but in
this case study, mother and child were able to stay together.
This might be of interest if you:
–
Are an early year practitioner working with
parents and use this as a tool kit
–
Are an early years manager and could use this
with staff
–
An creative practitioner/ organisation who may
be developing an arts workshop with early years
