A Case Study From a Children's Centre

This week we are joined by Hygge in the Early Years Member Amanda Fisher who is sharing with you her journey on approaching Hygge in a Children's Centre. 

I have worked in Children Centres for 9 years, prior to that working within a preschool setting whilst my own children were little, I am currently privileged to manage a Children’s Centre in a deprived area with a wonderful community spirit.

I always strived to create a warm, welcoming and homely environment; indeed it is the one thing the centre is congratulated on frequently by visitors.  I wanted to extend this feeling throughout the centre which is what lead me to explore The Hygge Accreditation, the ethos is one which I feel most relates to what I want to create and offer to families, a sense of warmth, joy and belonging. 

The centre is a hive of activity throughout the week and one of the highlights is the Stay and Play session we offer weekly. We welcome families with children from birth and are privileged to be able to watch them grow and develop into toddlers, pre-schoolers and then wave them off to nursery and school with knowledge that we have supported them to be confident, full of curiosity and with a sense of belief in themselves. We continually look at the children attending and observe their learning styles, their interests, listening to their wishes, their strengths and quickly identify how we can support their development by challenging them.  Often this is through random resources staff acquire, in fact we call Monday, ‘bag of treasure Monday’, I can guarantee staff will arrive with obscure items that were going in the bin or found at the back of a cupboard or a car boot.  My husband looked at me astounded when I salvaged a bicycle wheel he was about to dispose of, but when you have a number of children who have a curiosity for anything rotary, this made a perfect resource mounted on a stand thank you to a member of staffs husband. It is currently sparkled up with tinsel, bells and beads and has been an item of intrigue, soothing and mesmerising for many including the children who attend our additional needs group. Transporting the free piano I located was a bit more of a challenge but we succeeded and it is now located outside after a little transformation and has provided opportunity to explore sound.

 The centre is used for a range of activities throughout the week so in essence I consider us a pack away setting, however with a little creativity and organisation I ensure quality and provision is not compromised and the environment is changed as we move with seasons, celebrations and children’s interests. Autumn saw a cosy inviting set up full of nature, now as we move into winter and festivities the area has been changed around, this also ensures children’s curiosity is kept alive and introduces a subtle acceptance of change. I also mimic set up in reception so families visiting the centre with children have the opportunity to explore.  

We have always provided a snack during stay and play, typically fruit, cheese, breadsticks but felt this was an area we could focus on to provide an opportunity for development of PSED.  Many of the children do not experience the social aspect of sitting and eating a meal together so we set about changing this and this has become an integral part of the session and also ensure that parents and carers have happy full children for the journey home in turn supporting the wellbeing of the parents and carers as well as the children.  We have served freshly made soup, cheesy potato mash and beans, spaghetti on toast, along with other treats such as Milk Barfi for Diwali.  I was recently asked why we provide such a substantial ‘snack’, why not?  Children are trying foods for the first time, parents are supported to offer new foods to babies who are weaning, children are developing social skills, independent skills when they are feeding themselves and taking their empty plates to the washing up area and equally parents and carers are talking, socialising and laughing.  Parents have embraced this aspect of session and it has progressed into a sharing of traditions, we were blessed with a Lithuanian feast during the summer by one of the parents who helped us prepare some traditional dishes.

 Wellbeing is an important aspect of the centre, not only for the families but staff too and another reason the Hygge Accreditation is so appealing.  I have introduced a wellbeing check in every Monday morning for staff, a ten minute opportunity to share any concerns or issues that may affect their wellbeing for that day or week.  I have also provided an area for 5 minute reflection, recharge and refocus which is sometimes needed in the work we do to support families.  The ethos of the centre is largely focused on well-being of all, parents are welcomed warmly, it is their centre, tea is always on offer and I am a hugger, so in times of need and support if a hug is needed, they are given freely. My top tips for working in a deprived area are 1. Value everyone, 2. Listen, really listen, 3. Ask We also place huge emphasis to support the families to access the community and all it offers, we have carried out autumn treasure walks, visits to the library, activities at the local garden centre, a football match at MK Dons and over the summer a trip to a pig sanctuary more often than not possible due to generosity from organisations who fund these opportunities.  What next? As festivities loom we have lots planned, a spot on the bandstand with our centre friends Ragdolly Anna’s along with the children and families singing our favourite songs, no doubt baby shark will be requested at Bletchley Christmas Light switch on, Christingle Service at the local church,, Christmas parties, Centre Christmas event with a live nativity and we will close the festivities on Christmas Eve with breakfast at the centre for children and families served by friends and supporters of the centre, a perfect way to wish all a joyful, warm few days and ensures that despite challenges of life all attending have one moment of togetherness knowing that there are people who care, and for the final treat I will publish on Facebook the staffs recording of a story for bedtime on Christmas Eve, last year was The Wonky Donkey, this year’s story is yet to be chosen.

 Thank you so much Amanda for sharing such a valuable insight into life at your Childrens Centre and why you feel hygge fits in so well with what you do. Find out more on our Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation here.