Pre-Birth to Three guidance (2.3 - Education Scotland

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Supporting Children’s Learning
12 See section on Environments
PRE-BIRTH TO THREE: POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR SCOTLAND’S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Understanding and Promoting
positive behaviour
ROLE OF STAFF
All staff have a key role to play in understanding and managing the
behaviour of babies and young children. Children often experience
strong emotions and do not always have the capacity to regulate these
emotions for themselves.
Very often, children’s behaviour is their way of communicating a need
and is reflective of their developmental stage and not meant to be
intentionally challenging.
Staff, therefore, need to be equipped and knowledgeable both
about the possible factors which may affect behaviour and a
range of strategies to manage children’s behaviour effectively and
appropriately. Promoting positive behaviour is essentially about
supporting the child’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical
development.
Effective and motivated staff are naturally enthusiastic as they play alongside and support children in their
learning. It is through these everyday interactions and relationships that staff help children to develop
positive attitudes and a strong desire to learn.
Babies and young children are naturally creative and they benefit immensely from staff who adopt a
creative approach as they encourage children to explore their world. Creating enriching and enabling
environments, indoors and outdoors, which stimulate and encourage children to explore and play, help
nurture the child’s curiosity and creativity. 12
Staff working in early years settings can foster creativity by valuing each child’s uniqueness. They are best
placed to guide children’s learning and development through meaningful observations which take account
of what the child already knows.
Staff should avoid limiting choices and experiences for children based on past experience and preconceived
ideas. They should recognise children’s abilities and potential abilities and should have high expectations,
believing children to be competent individuals. Supporting and providing challenge for babies and young
children appropriately is key to achieving positive outcomes now and in the future.