The Power of Love and Nurture in Early Years Education

In the world of early childhood education, we often focus on structured learning, developmental milestones, and curriculum goals. But what about the heart of it all, love and nurture? Research and practice tell us that young children thrive in environments where they feel secure, valued, and loved.

This is why we have both developed the Love and Nurture Rating Scale. The Love and Nurture Rating Scale (Bradbury & Grimmer, 2024) is a developmental tool designed to help early years practitioners assess, reflect on, and enhance the quality of their loving and nurturing practices. Inspired by established early years assessment frameworks such as the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS), the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS), and the SSTEW (Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-Being) Scale, this tool offers a structured yet flexible way for educators to evaluate their interactions with children.

However, unlike traditional rating scales that focus primarily on measurable learning outcomes, the Love and Nurture Rating Scale seeks to quantify something more intangible but essential, the depth of love, emotional security, and nurturing care present in early years settings.

Love and Nurture Rating Scale (Grimmer and Bradbury, 2024)

Why Love and Nurture Matter

From the moment a child is born, they begin forming connections with the world around them. Their brain development, emotional well-being, and social skills are all deeply influenced by the quality of relationships they experience. Neuroscience confirms that love and nurture shape children’s brains, helping them develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of self.

According to the Love and Nurture Rating Scale (Grimmer and Bradbury, 2024), love and nurture are the foundation of early childhood education. A child’s sense of belonging, becoming, being, and believing is built through everyday interactions with caregivers and educators.

1. Belonging: The Foundation of Emotional Security

Children need to feel like they belong to their families, their early years settings, and their wider communities. A strong sense of belonging fosters emotional well-being, confidence, and social competence. It’s about creating an environment where every child feels welcome, noticed, and valued.

As early childhood educators, we can nurture this by:

Greeting children warmly each day.
Displaying photos of their families and cultures in the learning space.
Encouraging peer connections and friendships.
Actively listening and responding to children’s thoughts and feelings.

2. Becoming: Supporting Growth and Potential

Every child is on a journey of becoming developing their identity, skills, and understanding of the world. Love and nurture mean recognising that children develop at their own pace and need encouragement rather than pressure to meet milestones.

Ways to support this include:

Using positive reinforcement and celebrating small achievements.
Encouraging curiosity and exploration.
Providing opportunities for choice and independence.
Understanding and respecting each child’s unique learning style.

3. Being: The Importance of the Present Moment

Children are not just future adults; they are individuals with thoughts, emotions, and experiences in the now.

Valuing their present moments means slowing down, being attuned to their needs, and acknowledging their emotions.

We can foster this by:

Being fully present during interactions.
Validating children’s emotions and supporting emotional regulation.
Engaging in meaningful play alongside them rather than directing it.
Encouraging self-expression through art, music, and storytelling.

4. Believing: Encouraging Self-Worth and Confidence

Children need adults who believe in them. When we demonstrate unwavering belief in a child’s abilities, they begin to believe in themselves. This self-efficacy is crucial for lifelong learning and resilience.

To build this belief:

Offer encouragement instead of focusing on mistakes.
Allow children to take risks and make choices.
Model a growth mindset by showing that learning comes from effort and persistence.
Foster independence and decision making skills.

5. Loving Interactions: The Language of Connection

At the heart of love and nurture are our everyday interactions. Simple gestures, a warm smile, a reassuring touch, an attentive ear, can have profound effects on a child’s development.

Ways to express love in practice:

Using kind and affirming words.
Spending quality time engaging with each child individually.
Providing physical comfort (e.g., holding a child’s hand or offering a hug if they seek it).
Recognising and responding to each child’s unique love language.

Implementing Love and Nurture in Practice

Embedding love and nurture into early years settings doesn’t require a separate curriculum; it’s about a mindset shift. The Love and Nurture Rating Scale suggests practical steps for educators:

Reflect on Current Practice – How do we currently express love and nurture in our settings?
Strengthen Relationships – Deepen connections with children and their families.
Evaluate Interactions – Observe and assess the quality of adult-child interactions.
Take Action – Develop an action plan to enhance loving and nurturing practices.

Love and nurture are not just “nice to have” elements in early childhood education—they are essential. When children feel safe, valued, and supported, they thrive emotionally, socially, and cognitively. As early years educators, we have the privilege of shaping children’s earliest experiences. By prioritizing love and nurture in our daily practice, we create a foundation for lifelong learning, well-being, and success.

Let’s ensure that love and nurture remain at the heart of everything we do.

If you want to join in with the Love and Nurture Training we have on the 10th April 11am - 1:30pm. Book your place here:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/earlyyearsreviews/1541651

Come and Join Tamsin Grimmer and Aaron Bradbury for an online course.

Are you ready to revolutionise your early years practice? Discover the transformative power of love and nurture with our live online training programme designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and leaders.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

The science behind love and nurture in brain development.
How to build meaningful relationships with children.
Practical strategies for supporting behaviour through a relational approach.
How to identify and respond to children’s unique love languages.
Self-evaluation techniques using the exclusive Love and Nurture Rating Scale.

🎥 Why Choose This Programme?

Interactive discussions and scenarios and expert guidance.
Flexible approach to start your rating scale.
Certification to demonstrate your ongoing commitment to relational approaches in the early years.

💖 Who Is It For? If you’re an early childhood educator, nursery manager, or someone passionate about creating safe, loving environments for children, this training is for you.

Each participant will be entitled to one free download of the Love and Nurture Rating Scale.

Unfortunately no refund will be given after 10 days before the event.