World Breastfeeding Week celebrated in Jersey
Mums in Jersey who breastfeed were invited to take part in World Breastfeeding Week (1 -7 August 2020) in a different way this year.
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding. It is promoted by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and in Jersey, by the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) operational group.
The group consists of health visitors, midwives, a post-partum doula and mums who are actively involved.
For the past few years, the Baby Friendly Initiative operational group in Jersey has organised a community event to celebrate, raise the profile of, and normalise breastfeeding within Jersey. The event, known as The Big Latch, last year, was attended by hundreds of mums to show their support of breastfeeding, and is an opportunity for mums to meet up and relax in a friendly setting with their babies.
However, due to current restrictions around large group events, The Big Latch couldn’t go ahead this year, but mums still got involved in showing their support for breastfeeding by uploading a “selfie” of them breastfeeding their baby or child, at the start of the awareness week, on Saturday 1 August, on social media using the hashtag #VirtualBigLatchJersey2020.
Sarah Keating, Family Nursing and Home Care’s Breastfeeding Lead and BFI Lead, said: “Quite early this year it became clear that our normal gathering in a park to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week wouldn’t be able to go ahead due to the government guidelines around COVID-19. However, we wanted to ensure that we still celebrated what has become an annual event, whilst acknowledging the change in the way that we communicate and support breastfeeding journeys. As many services became virtual during ‘lockdown’, it seemed particularly apt that our community event for this year would also be a virtual one, drawing on the power of social media to keep us connected in celebration.”
As well as the #VirtualBigLatchJsy2020 online event, local photographer Sophie Darwin has photographed a number of local mums breastfeeding on the doorsteps of their homes, with babies and children of all ages. Their images will be shared on Family Nursing & Home Care’s social media channels over the duration of World Breastfeeding Week.
Every year, health visitors at Family Nursing & Home Care and midwives from Health and Community Services advise and support new mums who choose to breastfeed.
Sarah added: “Our health visitors are proud to work with all mums after the birth of their baby. One of the most common issues we’re asked about and offer support with, is breastfeeding. If mums choose to breastfeed their baby, it’s really important that they feel supported to do it and that they feel they have access to the best information.
The Jersey Child Care Trust- Wilma Allan Award 2020
The Jersey Child Care Trust is delighted to invite nominations for the Wilma Allan Award 2020.
This year, we ask that if you have a recently qualified early year’s practitioner working with you, who deserves some recognition for their outstanding practice – let us know!
The winner of The Wilma Allan Award will be presented with the award by Lady Dalton (our Patron) at a reception at Government House on Wednesday 18th November. The setting who nominated them will receive £500 to buy toys and resources.
You can nominate by contacting [email protected]. Simply outline what your nominee has done that goes above and beyond. To make it even better, you can include supporting thoughts, quotes or info from any of the parents that they work with or indeed their colleagues in your team or the children. You can send in photos, written evidence, quotes, short films or something else… We just ask that we have your nominations by Friday 30th October.
Early Childhood Development Programme Update
Making it REAL Training Opportunities:
We are currently delivering ‘REAL’ Training for Trainers – developing our own trainers able to deliver REAL here in Jersey. We are experimenting with a mixed delivery session – Dr Cathy Hamer is via Zoom and Julie McAllister is here at Pips Place:
Future training opportunities:
Sharing REAL with Parents, Training for Trainers
• 10th, 17th and 24th November (3.30 till 5.00)
Making it REAL Training:
• 21st and 22nd January 2021
A REAL Approach to Early Maths Training for Trainers:
• 25th and 26th February 2021
A REAL Approach to Early REAL Maths Training:
• 22nd March 2021
We plan to deliver these sessions through a combination of online and face to face (at ‘Pips Place’).
For further information or to book a place please contact Kate at JCCT – [email protected]
Knowledge Makes Change Seminar
We are delighted to confirm that the we will be hosting (via a virtual platform) the 11th Knowledge Makes Change Seminar, in early November.
The theme for the seminar will focus on emotional/mental health and well-being linked with play and brain development, in the context of the impact of Covid-19.
We are in the process of finalising arrangements with the key note speaker and will make further details, including confirmation of the date (10th/11th/12th Nov) and booking arrangements available
REAL Projects
We would like to thank all the teachers and practitioners that have been delivering REAL projects and particularly for sending project data to Kate at JCCT. The submission of data is much appreciated and helps us to evaluate the impact of Making it REAL and to plan for future support.
We know that the delivery of many projects has been affected by Covid-19 and hope that the socially distanced activity idea sheets were useful, we’d love to hear how they have been used to support children and families.
Hopefully many of you have now been able to re-start projects that were paused due to lockdown. We are very much look forward to hearing how they are going.
To enable us to meet the external evaluation schedule, following are the timeframes for project delivery:-
• For projects that started in Oct 19 or Feb 20 (Literacy and Maths) that were paused and are picking up where they left off with same children
o Project delivery to be complete by Oct ½ term
o Data / paperwork to be submitted by 2.11.20
• For new projects, where setting had funding but now need to re-start with new children
o Project delivery to be complete by end of Autumn term – 18.12.20
o Data / paperwork to be submitted by 4.1.21
Knowledge Makes Change Newsletter
Part of NCBs strategy to ensure the Jersey Early Childhood Development Programme is sustainable, once the current funding comes to an end, is to support Jersey Childcare Trust to take on the full production of the KMC newsletter. We are very grateful to Kate Elston for taking this on and for working with us to continue this. Future bulletins will be produced by Kate but NCB will continue to support and contribute.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the ongoing work of the Jersey Early Childhood Development Programme
Research and practice from the UK and international contexts
Foundation Years: COVID-19 resources hub
Foundation Years have launched a new hub to support all early years providers during the COVID-19 outbreak. It includes the latest policy updates, Government guidance, and free resources from across the early years sector all in one place.
The hub will be updated as new resources become available and key updates will be sent via email to the Foundation Years community. If there is anything you would like to see added to the hub or if you have any feedback, please get in touch at [email protected]
Outdoor Classroom Day
The next Outdoor Classroom day is taking place on Thursday 5th November, with the theme ‘Love the Outdoors’. Schools, nurseries and childminders can sign up to take part and there are a number of resources available on the website.
EECERA Open Access articles
To coincide with their online convocation this month, see details below, EECERA (European Early Childhood Education Research Association) are offering open access to some recent EECERA Journal articles. This is a collection of articles focusing on some important issues of access to education, modes of delivery and the role of digital technology. They are available as open access for a limited time.
Cornerstones of Attachment Research
This open access book provides a comprehensive understanding of each attachment theorist. The result of a major research project, the book is written in a style that is accessible for both the specialist and the non-specialist. You can download a PDF of the book here.
Childhood trauma and the brain
The UK Trauma Council (UKTC) is a group of leading experts, drawn from a variety of disciplines across all four nations, bringing together expertise in research, practice, policy and lived experience in the field of childhood trauma. The Childhood Trauma and the Brain animation with the accompanying guidebook, videos and articles provides information from neuroscience research for frontline professionals and carers about the impact of traumatic experiences on the brain.
Training and CPD – Nasen
Nasen (the National Association for Special Educational Needs) has some new free online training and CPD available, including:
• A webcast on the importance of play and relationships for young children
• An information booklet Time together with your toddler
• Free webinar Meeting the needs of every child (various dates, registration required)
Nasen are offering free membership from January 2021,which will offer a range of benefits, find out more here.
Tiny Happy People
Tiny Happy People from the BBC has ideas to support parents and carers in developing the language and communication skills children 0-4 years old. It offers a wide range of tips and advice and activities that have been specially designed with experts to help to nurture children’s language right from pregnancy. It is updated regularly with new content such as new activities and ideas from The Baby Club.
Advice on child oral health
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published information on why oral health is so important and advice and resources to support caring for young children’s teeth. The British Society for Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has created COVID-19 resources to support children going to a dental appointment during and post pandemic.
International Narratives about COVID-19 and Early Childhood 27-28 October, online
Following the postponement of their Annual Conference, EECERA are holding an online convocation, a series of 5 webinars over two days, which aims to bring together the international ECEC community to learn about the latest research, approaches and perspectives relating to the education and development of young children. It also provides a forum to explore contested positions, seeks multiple perspectives and collaboration.
Registration is required and there is a charge to attend.
