Gracie arrives on her first day at nursery with a blank stare. She wanders around clutching a worn-out toy monkey. There is little emotion, nor engagement. Gracie has spent most of her young life moving around from place to place. Recently, she has been taken into emergency care and is missing her mum.
Kanye started screaming on his way down the road to the nursery, clinging tightly to his Mum. He is frightened and determined not to let go.
Despite arriving early, Leila hasn’t had time for breakfast. She is feeling hungry, still in pyjama bottoms, and clearly distressed. She sits on the floor of the nursery wailing, drinking cold tea from a baby’s bottle.
All three children have a story, but none of them has the communication, social and emotional skills to tell it. Through quite different behaviours they are each expressing specific needs – perhaps for connection, a sense of belonging or relationship – in an unfamiliar environment. The role of the statutory key person in early years – for these three children and others like them – is crucially important.
