Sonia Mainstone-Cotton – författare

This accessible book offers essential guidance and practical ideas for Early Years staff to support children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. It draws upon a wealth of experiences and insights to explore what SEMH is, why children may have SEMH needs, and what this can look like, giving practitioners the confidence they need to understand early signals and signs.

Chapters share practical tools, activities and strategies, exploring topics that include:

A range of case studies and resource suggestions are woven throughout, bringing the theory alive with first-hand advice from a variety of professionals, including educational psychologists, play therapists and Forest School specialists. This book is a refreshing and practical guide, and an essential read for all Early Years practitioners looking to cultivate a supportive and compassionate environment.

This accessible book offers essential guidance and practical ideas for Early Years staff to support children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. It draws upon a wealth of experiences and insights to explore what SEMH is, why children may have SEMH needs, and what this can look like, giving practitioners the confidence they need to understand early signals and signs.

Chapters share practical tools, activities and strategies, exploring topics that include:

A range of case studies and resource suggestions are woven throughout, bringing the theory alive with first-hand advice from a variety of professionals, including educational psychologists, play therapists and Forest School specialists. This book is a refreshing and practical guide, and an essential read for all Early Years practitioners looking to cultivate a supportive and compassionate environment.

In this unique and original book, Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton come together to have an open and honest conversation about developing positive and responsive relationships in the early years.

The book is divided into three main chapters – building positive relationships with children; with other professionals; and with families and the wider community – and each conversation explores a range of key themes, from building trust and listening to the voice of the child, to diversifying practice and creating a setting that represents the wider community. These discussions encourage the reader to consider the connections we make every day, to rethink and empower their practice, and to place a much higher value on their position as an early years advocate.

With reflective questions included to allow the reader to think about their own practice, as well as suggested further reading to explore the themes in more depth, this engaging and accessible book is a must-read for all early years professionals – and, importantly, encourages every practitioner to begin new conversations of their own.

In this unique and original book, Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton come together to have an open and honest conversation about developing positive and responsive relationships in the early years.

The book is divided into three main chapters – building positive relationships with children; with other professionals; and with families and the wider community – and each conversation explores a range of key themes, from building trust and listening to the voice of the child, to diversifying practice and creating a setting that represents the wider community. These discussions encourage the reader to consider the connections we make every day, to rethink and empower their practice, and to place a much higher value on their position as an early years advocate.

With reflective questions included to allow the reader to think about their own practice, as well as suggested further reading to explore the themes in more depth, this engaging and accessible book is a must-read for all early years professionals – and, importantly, encourages every practitioner to begin new conversations of their own.

This accessible and practical guide explores how we can enhance and embed creativity in the early years to support children’s wellbeing. The book initially explores the work of Anna Craft, Ken Robinson, and Reggio Emilia to think about creativity with young children, before considering what this means for wellbeing. Five core chapters focus on creative mediums – drawing, sculpting and painting; craft; music; dance and drama; and storytelling and poetry – and offer a range of practical ideas and activities to use and adapt.

This book provides:

With ideas included that every practitioner can use in their setting, this book is an essential tool for early years professionals who want to build their confidence in using creativity in their practice whilst supporting children’s wellbeing.

This accessible and practical guide explores how we can enhance and embed creativity in the early years to support children’s wellbeing. The book initially explores the work of Anna Craft, Ken Robinson, and Reggio Emilia to think about creativity with young children, before considering what this means for wellbeing. Five core chapters focus on creative mediums – drawing, sculpting and painting; craft; music; dance and drama; and storytelling and poetry – and offer a range of practical ideas and activities to use and adapt.

This book provides:

With ideas included that every practitioner can use in their setting, this book is an essential tool for early years professionals who want to build their confidence in using creativity in their practice whilst supporting children’s wellbeing.

Nurturing children and supporting their wellbeing is vitally important, along with looking after the wellbeing of the staff who support them. Wellbeing Explained highlights the importance of wellbeing and explains key terms associated with wellbeing and mental health needs. Unpicking terms such as holistic development, self-esteem, SEMH, and anxiety, it uses practical examples and case studies to explain what these mean and how we can promote wellbeing through policy and practices.

Divided into two parts, the first provides a brief overview of the key terms associated with wellbeing in early childhood alongside examples of what they mean in practice. Part two then shares the principles that underpin promoting good wellbeing, such as prioritising staff wellbeing, adopting a loving pedagogy, keeping the child and family central to provision, and creating an enabling environment explaining the underlying ethos of a child-centred approach.

Part of the Key Concepts in Early Childhood Series, this is essential reading for early years practitioners and students that want to know and understand what they can do to support their own wellbeing and the children they work with.

Nurturing children and supporting their wellbeing is vitally important, along with looking after the wellbeing of the staff who support them. Wellbeing Explained highlights the importance of wellbeing and explains key terms associated with wellbeing and mental health needs. Unpicking terms such as holistic development, self-esteem, SEMH, and anxiety, it uses practical examples and case studies to explain what these mean and how we can promote wellbeing through policy and practices.

Divided into two parts, the first provides a brief overview of the key terms associated with wellbeing in early childhood alongside examples of what they mean in practice. Part two then shares the principles that underpin promoting good wellbeing, such as prioritising staff wellbeing, adopting a loving pedagogy, keeping the child and family central to provision, and creating an enabling environment explaining the underlying ethos of a child-centred approach.

Part of the Key Concepts in Early Childhood Series, this is essential reading for early years practitioners and students that want to know and understand what they can do to support their own wellbeing and the children they work with.

"Help! What Do I Do Now?" is an essential guide for primary school teachers, full of practical strategies to support children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in the classroom.

The book offers a comprehensive approach and holistic perspective on SEMH support, covering topics from regulating the whole class and regulating individual children, to understanding the impact of sensory needs and transitions. Chapters illustrate how a range of strategies can be applied in real-life classrooms, and case studies and reflections demonstrate how they can be adapted to suit each setting and unique child in need. Further support and guidance is also offered on staff wellbeing, emphasising the importance of looking after yourself and supporting your own wellbeing first.

With a wealth of cost- and time-effective ideas and suggestions to support children with SEMH, this accessible guide will be essential reading for practising and trainee primary school teachers, as well as SENCOs and school leaders.

"Help! What Do I Do Now?" is an essential guide for primary school teachers, full of practical strategies to support children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in the classroom.

The book offers a comprehensive approach and holistic perspective on SEMH support, covering topics from regulating the whole class and regulating individual children, to understanding the impact of sensory needs and transitions. Chapters illustrate how a range of strategies can be applied in real-life classrooms, and case studies and reflections demonstrate how they can be adapted to suit each setting and unique child in need. Further support and guidance is also offered on staff wellbeing, emphasising the importance of looking after yourself and supporting your own wellbeing first.

With a wealth of cost- and time-effective ideas and suggestions to support children with SEMH, this accessible guide will be essential reading for practising and trainee primary school teachers, as well as SENCOs and school leaders.