Nursery World - Safe haven

An early years setting may be the best thing to have happened to a refugee child for a long time. Tina Hyder of Save the Children explains how to settle them in The memories of one playgroup worker in north London illustrate the beneficial effect that an early years setting can have on a young refugee child. 'I remember when this boy first arrived at the playgroup. He was just three and had arrived recently from Eritrea. He was so angry and frustrated that he threw things around and hit other children. But over the weeks he began to trust us and started communicating with the other children. I think he really benefited from his time with us. We were a place of safety.'

The memories of one playgroup worker in north London illustrate the beneficial effect that an early years setting can have on a young refugee child. 'I remember when this boy first arrived at the playgroup. He was just three and had arrived recently from Eritrea. He was so angry and frustrated that he threw things around and hit other children. But over the weeks he began to trust us and started communicating with the other children. I think he really benefited from his time with us. We were a place of safety.'

Put yourself in the position of that three-year-old. Your life has been full of upheaval and change. Even if you have not been subject to violence yourself, you may have seen family members killed, hurt or terrorised. You may have spent time in hiding or had a difficult and dangerous journey to safety. Your carers are preoccupied, anxious and stressed; your recent life is full of fear and dread.

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