Attachments

Understanding and supporting attachments in the classroom - Lara Henderson-McCoy

Bowlby's

attachment theory

Secure attachment

Anxious avoidant attachment

Anxious resistant attachment

Disorganised/disoriented attachment

What I've learnt about supporting attachments

• Offer early intervention and support

• Be consistant
• Listen!
• Validate their feelings

• Parent partnership is fundamental to schools and the 2021 Early Years Foundation Stage (UK Government, EYFS 2021) outlines the importance of collaborating with parents

"You've worked with children to support their attachment issues and become their attachment figure in school." Professional partner (2022)

What is attachment ?

"A lasting psychological connectedness between human beings" Bowlby (1997) His Attachment theory is important as it has shaped child-care and our understanding of various childhood issues (Fitzgerald, 2021)Children need to develop a secure attachment with a main caregiver (Conkbayir and Pascal,2014) Ainsworth expanded on Bowlby's studies and conclued that children have multiple attachments Secondary attachments with practitioners, i.e keyworkers in nurseries.

Why does attachment matter?

Healthy attachments are important. "If a mother is attached to her baby, she is more likely to protect and care for him/her to prevent harm from occuring." Musgrove (2017) In school, I have learnt to recognise those children who have healthy, positive relationships with caregivers but it's also important to look out for those who do not. Be an Advocate and a Custodian