Another star in court

Reading the distressing reports in tonight's news regarding Michael Turner ("Kevin" on Coronation Street) on Day One of his trial for alleged child sex offences, the fact that the child couldn't tell anyone about the abuse at the time or afterwards, and that the adults in her world didn't recognise the classic indicators emerge as prominent factors in the press reports regarding the case so far.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-23928308

I began to think this evening how incredibly important these messages are in the early years - Theme One, Theme Two, Persistence, adults dedicated to listening to children......all these key elements may have helped that child during the time she was being abused.

On further reflection, I thought of the statement in the current EYFS which can be found on page 13, in the Personal, Social and Emotional Development section under the strand "Managing Feelings and Behaviour" as an age-related expectation for children of approximately 30-50months of age.

It states:

[children] "Can usually tolerate delay when needs are not immediately met"

I know at times, as a nursery teacher, I have evidenced this very statement when children have tried to interrupt a conversation to speak to me and I have reminded them gently to wait until I have finished the conversation I am engaged in which they then have managed successfully. I know of other teachers/practitioners who have interpreted this statement the same way. Now, I am really questioning this wording. How do we teach this skill to children, but also teach that if someone tries to hurt/actually hurts them they can try to get help and persist until they are heard? How, as practitioners, can we be sure that the child learns both of these incredibly important, yet at times conflicting messages?

I think I'd rather be interrupted a million times a day than seem too busy to listen and risk a missed opportunity for disclosure.

Really interested to hear other thoughts on this, especially those who work in early years.

Judith

Hi Judith,
I've been looking at the revised EYFS with a view to updating my resource Where's the PBs in that? And, as before, the area of Personal, Social & Emotional Development (PSED) is packed with statements that link directly with the PB process. I will upload this document to the Training Room area of the site as soon as I get it finished! There will also be lots more PBs in the other 2 primary areas as well asthe characteristics of effective learning which has to be based on children feeling safe enough to risk on purpose and explore.