Well-being and Emotional Support

At St Barnabas Preschool, your child’s well-being is at the centre of everything we do. We know that children learn best when they feel safe, secure, and emotionally supported, and we place a strong focus on helping children feel happy, confident, and understood.

A Nurturing Environment

We provide a calm, caring, and welcoming environment where children feel comfortable being themselves. Our staff take time to build strong, trusting relationships with every child, helping them feel settled and supported throughout the day.

Children are encouraged to:

• Express their feelings in a safe way
  
  

• Develop confidence and independence
  
  

• Build positive relationships with adults and peers
  
  

• Feel proud of who they are
  
  

Supporting Emotional Development

We support children’s emotional development through everyday experiences, play, and gentle guidance. Staff help children to:

• Recognise and name their feelings
  
  

• Learn ways to manage big emotions
  
  

• Develop resilience and self-regulation
  
  

• Build empathy and kindness towards others
  
  

We understand that young children may find it difficult to explain how they feel, and we respond with patience, reassurance, and consistency.

Individual Support When Needed

Some children need a little extra support with their emotions or behaviour. When this happens, we work closely with families to understand what helps their child feel calm and secure.

Support may include:

• Key person support and regular check-ins
  
  

• Small group or one-to-one support
  
  

• Calm spaces for regulation and reassurance
  
  

• Clear routines and visual support
  
  

• Working alongside our SENCo where appropriate
  
  

We always focus on supporting, not labelling, and on helping children feel understood.

Working in Partnership with Families

We believe emotional wellbeing is best supported when we work together. We value open communication with parents and carers and encourage regular conversations about how children are feeling both at home and at preschool.

Where appropriate, we may also work with external professionals to ensure children receive consistent support.

Our Promise

At St Barnabas Preschool, we promise to:

• Listen to children and families
  
  

• Respond with care and understanding
  
  

• Create a safe space where emotions are respected
  
  

• Support every child to feel confident, calm, and ready to learn
  
  

If you ever have concerns about your child’s wellbeing or emotional development, please speak to a member of our team — we are always here to listen and help.