After years in the wildernessattachment is back and isfeaturing in the latest Ofstedcriteria. But you’d be forgiven forthinking you’d imagined the whole

thing after the government’s announcement onratios. Developing meaningful relationships withthree under-two-year-olds is hard enough, butwith four it is difficult to complete more thanjust the basic tasks.

What About The Children? (WATCh?)promotes the importance of secureattachment in the early years and the vitalrole that consistent, loving care plays in braindevelopment. It is not supportive of the More

Great Childcare proposals because itbelieves that the quality of relationshipsbetween carers and children will be affected for the worse – regardless ofqualification levels.

With the introduction of the new EYFSframework some progress had been madeon attachment. The switch to the phrase ‘keyperson’ from ‘key worker’ has put a greaterfocus on relationships. This will now bejeopardised with higher ratios. But does thatmatter? Why is the relationship so importantin a nursery setting? Isn’t that where Mumand Dad come in? After all, intimaterelationships with other people’s children arecomplicated – not least because of childprotection issues.

This article is the first in a series onattachment. This issue, we will look at whysecure attachment is so important. Insubsequent issues, we will look at what thechallenges are in achieving attachment innurseries and how they can be addressed, aswell as some examples of best practice.

What is attachment?The term attachment is used to refer to theemotional relationships between a baby andthe people who spend the most time caringfor the baby. It provides the baby with acomforting sense of security and safety.

From six months onwards (peaking ataround 12 months and tailing off betweenthe ages of two and three) a baby exhibitsattachment behaviours. He shows a desirefor closeness to the primary attachmentfigure (usually Mum) in a variety of ways:

n following her with his eyes or movinghimself to be close, especially in new situations;n separation anxiety when the attachmentfigure is not present;n crying if she leaves;n excitement on her return;n clinging behaviour on her return as if hefears she will leave again;n fear of strangers.

Multiple attachmentfiguresOf course, infants will form attachments toother caregivers who love them. Currentthinking suggests that some relationshipsare more important than others, with theprimary attachment figure at the top of thepyramid, then a couple of people in thenext tier and a few more in the next, andso on. The attachments will get weaker asyou go down the pyramid. The infant willdo better – i.e. in his/her development –with one or two strong attachmentrelationships rather than several weaker ones.

In fact, research suggests children seem todo best when they have at least three adultswho consistently send the message, ‘I careabout you’. Researchers theorise that spendingtime with non-parental caregivers – agrandparent, a daycare teacher, a family friend,a doting aunt – helps infants learn to readdifferent facial expressions and expand theirability to take the perspectives of others.

Why is attachmentimportant?There is now little doubt that the first threeyears of life shape a human’s mental, emotionaland physical health for life – and quite out of

Sarah Heale of charity WATCh? begins a new series into the crucial rolesecure attachment plays in children’s development and wellbeing...

“It’s about love and consistency...”

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a uniquechild

The first three years of life shape a human’smental, emotional and physical health forlife – and quite out of proportion to the later years of childhood

proportion to the later years of childhood.The third birthday is a milestone, becausebrain development is about 90 per centcomplete, speech is established andseparation from the main carer becomeseasier. New horizons open up: friendshipscan be formed, preschool educationbecomes relevant, and independence is anew skill to try out.

We now know that it is consistent, lovingcare that enables all this to happen. It firesthe links between brain cells (particularly inthe emotional centre of the brain) whichallow the brain to grow. There are manyways synaptic links are fired, but in the firstfew years it is loving communication andattunement between child and carers that iskey. The relationships that under-threes havewith their carers are the key predictor of development – social, emotional and physical.

What does attachmentlook like? These are the four key features in‘psychology speak’:

Affect synchrony: the carer’s ability to pickup cues from the infant and adapt her/hisbehaviour accordingly. E.g., if the carer seesthe baby is unhappy she will pick up thebaby, speak soothingly to him. It causesstress for the infant if the carer misreads thecues and becomes either too intrusive or toowithdrawn, i.e. a carer who persists in tryingto engage the baby when he is obviouslyturning away or pulling away from herincreases the child’s distress.

Mentalisation: the process of interactingwith the infant as a sentient being withdesires, intentions and thoughts – inaddition to caring for the child’s physicalneeds. So a carer who sees a baby kickinghis legs and making eye contact might say,“Do you want to play?” or “Are you readyfor your bath?” Mirroring: the carer’s skill in reflecting backto the infant an approximation for what herinfant is feeling. Good carers tend to makeexaggerated happy and sad faces at littleones, making them easier to imitate andbuilding on the baby’s basic innateunderstanding of emotionalcommunication.Containment: the carer’s ability to take ona child’s overwhelming feelings and makethem more manageable for the infant. Thecarer may use touch, speech or gesture toconvey to the infant that they understandwhat they are going through.

In layman's terms that means...

n Spending considerable time each dayone-to-one: talking, cuddling, making him laugh.n Calming the infant when he’s stressed –using eye-to-eye contact with gentlemurmured conversation to soothe.

“With the outpouring of neuro-scientificinformation and the research built aroundit, we have more opportunity than anyprevious generation to understand thatbabies’ very first relationships from DayOne are crucial to building both thestructure and the function of their brainsand nervous systems and to realise thatthe physical, social and emotionaldevelopment that goes on in the first yearor two is the foundation of everythingthat’s to come.

“It is the quality of their relationshipswith loving adult attachment figures –particularly parents but also other carers– which determines how the braindevelops, particularly its social andemotional functioning. Frequent changesof carer, or lack of intimate emotionalcontact with those who are responsiblefor providing care, can cause stress andinsecurity that permanently affects an infant.”Penelope Leach, child psychologist

n Over time, developing an understandingof his communication attempts andresponding accordingly.

And to make the message even plainer, it’sabout love and consistency.

What does it mean for me?In a nutshell, carers have a great deal ofinfluence over a child’s development and futurewellbeing. Like the builder who says – ratherthan “laying bricks” – “I am building a cathedral”,so an early years practitioner should say –rather than “changing nappies” – “I am buildingour future society”.

If you disagree with the proposed increase inadult/child ratios for under-twos from 1:3 to 1:4 then take action: write to your MP or sign the petition attinyurl.com/TNMGCpetition

Sarah is director of charity

What About the Children?

and founder of Heale Consulting. Visit

whataboutthechildren.org.uk

abouttheauthor

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