One of the three Prime Areas, we aim for learning how to work, play and co-operate with others, learning how to function in a group beyond the family. Successful personal, social, and emotional development is crucial for very young children in all aspects of their lives. It is also necessary for their success in all other areas of learning.

 It is all about children being:

- interested, excited and motivated to learn
- confident to try new activities, initiate ideas and speak in a familiar group

 - able to maintain attention, concentrate and sit quietly when appropriate
 - aware of their own needs, views and feelings, and also sensitive to the needs, views and feelings of others
 - respectful of their own culture and beliefs and those of others
 - responsive to significant experiences showing a range of feelings when appropriate
 - able to form good relationships with adults and peers
 - able to work as part of a group, taking turns and sharing fairly, understanding that there needs to be agreed values and codes of behaviour for groups of people to work together
- able to understand what is right, what is wrong and why

- able to dress and undress independently and manage their own personal hygiene
- able to select and use activities and resources independently
- able to consider the consequences of their words and actions
- able to understand that people have different needs, views, cultures and beliefs, which need to be treated with respect
- able to understand that they can expect others to treat their needs, views, cultures and beliefs with respect

When they leave our Nursery, your child should be able to:

• Be more independent, and enjoy being given resources and activities that they can use by themselves.
• Be more confident interacting with new people.
• Play with other children and build on ideas in their play.
• Understand rules, and follow them most of the time.
• Assert themselves in appropriate ways.
• Talk to their friends to solve problems that might happen when playing.
• Use different words to talk about how they are feeling, and develop an understanding of how other people might be feeling.

How you can help your child at home:

• Model how you manage your own feelings, e.g., “I’m feeling a bit angry so I am going to take a deep breath.”
• Talk to your child about why they are feeling sad or frustrated.