Standard 3 centres on the nature and consequences of changes or transitions for children. It also acknowledges that particular events or ongoing situations will have an influence on children's behaviour and their capacity to learn and develop. These changes could be within the setting, moving from home to the setting or changing staff or room within the setting; or they could be factors in their home life. The standard is concerned with personal practice, relationships with children, collaboration with parents and colleagues, and professional development.
Karen is the owner- manager of a nursery in Altrincham and is very hands-on in the day-to-day practice of the setting. Karen showed how she met this standard through a combination of evidence. In a written task submitted prior to the assessor's visit, she described how she had implemented settling-in procedures for new children and also for those moving from room to room.
In another task she described how changes to the room set-up across the nursery ensured that the greater similarity between rooms in terms of signposting areas and equipment had a real benefit in easing children's transitions. Karen recognised that the effect will be different for individual children depending on their stage of development and their capacity to cope with change, but had devised strategies to support them.
Further examples were given in the documentary evidence Karen shared with her assessor. She included the settling-in procedures and a report on a child's transition, detailing the transition needs of an individual. This, and routines implemented with all of the children, were backed up by the witnesses Karen had nominated - a parent and the nursery teacher.
