The Bright Horizons Nurture Approach is a professional development programme, developed in partnership with clinical psychologist, Dr Sarah Mundy

The programme focuses on child development and neuroscience. It also helps adults understand the impact of their role in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing through building strong, supporting relationships.

Caroline Wright, director of early childhood at Bright Horizons, explained:

“Our Bright Beginnings Curriculum provides the conditions for children to develop emotional health, a clear sense of identity and self-worth, the ability to recognise and manage emotions, to learn, play, enjoy friendships and relationships, and deal with difficulties. To fully complement our curriculum, we’ve identified through research and practice that there is a need to provide practitioners with a greater depth of knowledge and understanding about wellbeing, and the associated concepts of early brain development, emotional development, co-regulation and self-regulation.”

Bright Horizons Nurture Approach

The Nurture Approach programme is split into five modules of learning. Each block considers the key developmental needs of the child and how to identify healthy emotional development and indicators of wellbeing.

Michelle Demirtas, an area director of early childhood at Bright Horizons has responsibility for emotional wellbeing. She is a team leader for early childhood specialists, and a vulnerable children advisor.

Michelle said: “A thriving early years setting is one where both team members and children feel good and can do well. They are flourishing and thriving in a nurturing environment. Flourishing practitioners know their strengths, are self-aware and resilient. It’s a virtuous circle: flourishing teams are linked to better outcomes for children, and a happier environment for everyone.

“The bottom line is if we want children to thrive, we must also help ourselves and our colleagues to thrive. We need to not only be serious about children’s wellbeing we must also get serious about adult wellbeing.

“The good news is that we can learn the skills and develop our resources to become better equipped to meet life’s challenges and to improve our wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of children in our care.”

This latest programme at Bright Horizons follows on from the launch of its own Bright Beginnings Curriculum. This was introduced to Bright Horizons nursery settings in England.