Anxiety and Early Years Transitions | Dave Smallwood

Clare talks to Dave Smallwood, Principal Team Teach trainer and Director at SENse Training and Consultancy, about anxiety and early years transitions. They discuss the impact on parents and carers during this phase, and external factors that can influence the success, or otherwise, of transitions.

They also explore what anxiety may look like in young children, and how staff can communicate effectively with families to offer the best support.

Dave has worked in special schools, for both the local authority and the National Autistic Society, and has extensive experience of supporting young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities.

As a staff development co-ordinator for the National Autistic Society, he developed and delivered training in autism, and equality, diversity, and rights.

You can find Dave on Linkedin.

He also shares three tips during the episode:

• Building relationships with parents and carers and fostering strong home / school links is key to successful transitions.
• After children have arrived in their setting, we need to consider social and emotional support, identifying ways to help them feel settled and secure.
• It can be helpful to share effective practice with other settings, and collaborate around different strategies for smooth early years transitions.