Relationship Mapping, Attachment and Attunement in the Early Years is a training course delivered by Jacqui Lewis, an early years specialist. The Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub funded Jacqui to extend the delivery of this training to include our SPH area. The course explores the concept of relationship mapping, using sociograms to visualise relationships, and provides an opportunity to reflect upon the individual and pedagogical factors which influence adult-child relationships, and to consider how to strengthen relationships so that every child has a meaningful connection. This course frames the concept of relationship mapping within the context of attachment and attunement, however, the concept of Relationship Mapping as a tool to reflect on relationships shares a long history and was developed further by Dr Sally Pearse as a creative research method within her research, ‘The Look of Love: reception teachers’ perceptions of professional love’ (2021). Jacqui Lewis is a champion for the use of this tool in the early years. She advocates for strengthening a relational based pedagogy and is committed to empowering early educators through reflective practice. She says, “It is the self reflections the tool surfaces for educators, that is where I believe the magic truly happens”.
We have two case studies from nursery leaders who, inspired by Relationship Mapping training, used it in their settings to promote positive relationships.
- Amy Harrington-Parry describes some factors influencing relationships in her setting and the questions she used to interrogate their sociograms. She explains how she used the sociograms with her team, and gives examples of the insights they drew from them about different adult-child relationships and the actions they took as a result.
- Hannah Anderson also describes the insight she got from her own sociograms and how she used these tools to review their key person system, and how to manage transitions with children better. Hannah also explains how this training has provided insights into staff relationships and the benefits she feels this has had on her team and with building better relationships with families.
Both leaders mention feeling more attuned and it is clear that this training had a powerful and lasting impact.
Read the Full Blog on Bristol & Beyond SPH's website here: Promoting Positive Relationships through Relationship Mapping – Case Studies from the Early Years - Bristol Early Years Teaching Hub