Course Launch: Respectful Care: Elevating Practice in Nursery Settings and Beyond

I’m delighted to share the launch of Respectful Care, a new course designed for nursery teams, early years practitioners and caregivers who want to build calmer, more connected and developmentally informed relationships with children.

With the DfE's (2023/2024) report, "Getting it right from the start," highlighting a gap in baby room pedagogy this could fit your plans for more focus on age-specific training, particularly for those baby room staff. And it really fits with the "Do Something Big" initiative as it brings a fresh and thought provoking angle, making Early Years feel more like a dynamic career choice rather than just a job.

In a sector where demands are high and time is limited, this approach offers something powerful:

Greater ease,

Deeper understanding,

and a more grounded, relational way of supporting young children.

Nurseries adopting a respectful, Pikler-inspired approach often see meaningful, organisation-wide benefits:

More settled children: Predictable routines and attuned caregiving reduce stress and support emotional regulation

Fewer behavioural escalations: When staff learn to observe first, respond slowly and tune in, challenging moments decrease

A cohesive team approach: Shared language and shared values strengthen practice culture

Increased staff confidence & wellbeing: Practitioners feel more resourced, more connected and less reactive. This leads to greater staff retention as staff feel fulfilled in their roles.

Parents notice the difference: Calmer transitions, clearer communication and a relational ethos build family trust

A truly child-centred environment: One where autonomy, natural motor development and respectful relationships are prioritised

Respectful Care offers a structured, reflective learning journey for nursery teams and individuals, covering attuned caregiving, observation, emotional safety, play, motor development, and the relational foundations that underpin quality early years care.

If your setting is exploring how to reduce overwhelm, strengthen staff relationships and create a culture of calm, this course may be a meaningful next step.

Learn more: charlotteshelleyalongside.co.uk/pages/respectful-care

I’m always happy to talk with settings interested in integrating this approach.