Approach - Birth To Three Matters

'Birth to Three Matters' is a framework to support children in their earliest years. It is the latest practical guidance for working with babies and toddlers, allowing the Happy Times Carer to provide valuable one-to-one support during the child's development. Research shows that a child's earliest years are very important to their later development.

Happy Times has implemented 'Birth to Three Matters' not because it is recommended, but because it helps us to plan and organise for your child's individual development stages. At Happy Times we encourage the importance of children being active in their own learning and learning at their own pace. The framework has been organised into four sections known as 'Aspects'. Each aspect has been sub-divided into four components. The nursery will use these areas for planning.The four aspects are:

Strong Child
This is linked to your child's social and emotional development. It is about helping your child to feel confident, self-assured and to enjoy being with others. Interpersonal communication is a two way process. We often talk to children but listening to them shows our respect for them and builds their self-esteem.

Healthy Child
This looks at the whole child. As well as exercise, food, hygiene and safety, it covers emotional security and making decisions.

Skilled Communicator
This 'Aspect' covers the importance of listening and sensitively responding to babies and toddlers, as well as looking at ways to actively promote language through stories, rhymes and toys. We encourage our children to be part of collaborative activities, making sure that they are not always dependant upon adults for them to contribute and take an active role.

Competent Learner
This focuses on how babies and toddlers understand and also respond to their world by, for example, being given new sensations and items to feel, touch and hold. We encourage them to try to explain what they see; they then will formulate new theories based on what they already 'know'.

Happy To Help With Birth To Three Matters
Your child's development happens everywhere and all of the time. The nursery is just one piece of the jigsaw. We are happy to talk to you about any aspect of 'Birth to Three Matters'. We can also help you with tips and hints to continue to apply it in your own time with your own children.