Children’s Well-being in the Nursery Policy

At Winston’s Place, children’s well-being is central to all practice. We are committed to ensuring that every child experiences a safe, secure and nurturing environment where they feel a strong sense of belonging, emotional security and respect and high-quality care that supports development across all EYFS prime areas.

Well-being underpins children’s learning behaviour, and development. We recognise that children thrive when they feel emotionally secure, valued, understood, and consistently supported by responsive adults. Our practice is inclusive, informed by children’s individual needs and experiences, and responsive to individual need.

We work in line with the EYFS statutory framework to ensure that all children receive “enjoyable, challenging and developmentally appropriate experiences tailored to their individual needs” (EYFS Statutory Framework 2025).

Physical Well-being

We promote children’s physical well-being by ensuring they:
• Develop strong gross and fine motor skills through continuous indoor and outdoor provision
• Build independence in self-care skills including hygiene, toileting and dressing
• Experience healthy, balanced nutrition and positive mealtime routines
• Access appropriate rest, sleep, and calm regulation spaces
• Develop awareness of personal safety and risk in a safe environment
• Develop an understanding of safety, hygiene and healthy choices through daily routines and adult modelling

Staff ensure that children’s individual medical, dietary, and physical needs are fully understood and met. Where required, individual care plans are implemented, shared with relevant staff, and regularly reviewed in partnership with parents/carers and professionals.

We promote lifelong healthy habits through consistent modelling, routines, and explanations appropriate to children’s age and understanding.

Children’s physical development, dietary needs, and rest requirements are closely observed, recorded, and responded to in partnership with parents/carers.

Children develop independence, physical confidence, and a strong understanding of healthy lifestyles.

Emotional and Mental Well-being

We provide a consistently nurturing environment where children are supported to develop emotional literacy, self-regulation, resilience, and secure attachments.

Staff support emotional development by:
• Co-regulating with children during moments of distress
• Naming and modelling emotions to build emotional vocabulary
• Providing calm, predictable responses to support emotional security
• Planning experiences that support emotional expression and regulation
• Responding to behaviour as communication in a developmentally appropriate way

We recognise that young children may experience strong emotions that they are not yet able to manage independently. Staff provide co-regulation and emotionally available support to help children gradually build self-regulation skills over time.

Staff are trained to identify early indicators of emotional distress and act promptly in line with safeguarding procedures. Early identification of emotional need is an integral part of safeguarding and welfare practice.

We value and respect each child’s background, routines, and lived experiences, ensuring continuity between home and nursery life.

Children develop confidence, emotional security, and increasing ability to regulate feelings and behaviour.

Social Well-being

We promote secure relationships as the foundation of social development through the Key Person Approach, which ensures that every child has a consistent, trusted adult who understands their needs.

Children are supported to:
• Form secure attachments with their key person
• Develop friendships and positive peer relationships
• Participate in a range of social groupings (individual, small group, large group)
• Develop empathy, cooperation, and respect for others
• Resolve conflict with support in a calm, consistent, and restorative manner

Staff model respectful communication and support children to understand boundaries, fairness, and emotional impact on others.

We create an inclusive environment where all children experience a strong sense of belonging, identity and inclusion within the nursery community.

“Children need to build an attachment with their key person for their confidence and well-being. The key person also promotes children’s learning by developing a deep understanding of their individual needs and children can particularly benefit from their modelling and support” (EYFS Statutory Framework 2025).

Children develop strong relationships, social confidence, and positive interaction skills.

Spiritual Well-being

We support children’s spiritual development through opportunities that develop:
• Self-awareness and identity
• Curiosity about the world
• Respect for different beliefs, cultures, and ways of life
• Reflection on experiences and emotions

Children are encouraged to explore who they are and to value differences in others. We actively promote respect, tolerance, and inclusion through all interactions, experiences, and provision.
Children are given opportunities to reflect, wonder, and express ideas through play, discussion, and experiences. Children develop a strong sense of identity, belonging, and respect for diversity.

Safeguarding and Professional Responsibility

Children’s well-being is directly linked to safeguarding. Staff are vigilant to any signs of emotional distress, neglect, or unmet need and act immediately in line with safeguarding procedures.

Well-being concerns are always considered within the wider context of the child’s home life and development. Where appropriate, we work in partnership with parents, Early Help, and other professionals.

All practice is delivered in line with EYFS requirements to ensure children receive high-quality, individualised learning and care experiences.

At Winston’s Place, well-being is not a separate provision but embedded in every interaction, routine, and experience. We ensure that children feel emotionally secure, physically safe, and consistently valued every day, enabling them to thrive emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually.