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Circle of Security Classroom (COSC)

Circle of Security Classroom course is based on decades of attachment research. It helps early years practitioners and teachers better understand the needs of each child and what they need to do to nurture secure relationships in their settings and classrooms. Trusting relationships help children become more confident in their ability to handle life's challenges and thrive in school and in life.

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Visit the Circle of Security International website to learn more about this approach and watch the videos of teachers and early years practitioners who are using it in their settings. 

After 25 years of research, we know that children who feel connected with their first teachers are more likely to:

 

• Feel connected to and enjoy belonging to their school

• Hold positive attitudes about school

• Look forward to going to school each day

• Show kindness and sensitivity to those around them

• Persist with school work in the face of difficulty

• Remain engaged with their schoolwork

• Have positive interactions with peers

• See themselves in a positive light even when under stress

• Seek out challenges in their school work, knowing they can turn to their teacher for help

• Work independently in the classroom because of confidence in the relationship with their teacher

• Bring a trusting attitude toward future teacher relationships

• Stay in school rather than find ways to go home early

• Have fewer incidents of school suspension or behavioural infractions

• Experience increased affection toward their teachers

• Demonstrate lower levels of aggression, less fighting/arguments with teachers and peers, and less disruptive behaviours in the classroom

• Experience some protection against the impact of growing up in stressful environments

 

(Cooper, Hoffman and Powell; Circle of Security International, 2018)

Modules

We cover all the topics in the Circle of Security Parenting course and the additional topics relevant to supporting emotional security in the early years settings and classrooms:

  • Classroom circle: a graphic representation of attachment relationships in the classroom.

  • Comings and goings in childcare: an attachment-informed way of managing transitions at the beginning and the end of the day.

  • The invisible children: building a secure relationship with the children that might be on the periphery of the classroom.

  • Curriculum of feelings: helping children express what they are thinking and feeling.

  • The teacher's path to secure hands: a three-step process for showing up as secure hands.

  • Sort by ease of connection: reflecting on relationships with children that might feel difficult to connect with.

  • Repair in the classroom: making relationship repairs with children and supporting children to make repairs with each other

Course details

Course length: 10 90-minute sessions

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Time: 1-2.30 pm on Wednesdays

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Dates: We'll meet weekly, with a break for half-term:

  • September 18, 25, October 2, 9 and 16

  • Half-term break on October 20

  • November 6, 13, 20, 27, December 4

 

Group size: up to 6 participants 

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Support in between the sessions: course workbook.  

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Location: online, on Zoom

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Fee: £450 per participant

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Booking: please email me at una@helpyourchildthrive.co.uk the names of the participants and I'll send you the invoice. If you would like to explore how Circle of Security Classroom can help your school, please book ani Initial consultation.   

Frequently asked questions

What happens during the sessions?

There are three parts to each session:

  • Checking in about your week, your observations, reflections, wins and challenges.

  • Studying the course material: each session covers an essential piece of information about developing secure relationships. The content is delivered in a highly interactive and relatable way through videos, graphics and plenty of time for reflection and discussions that will help you to weave your insights into your day-to-day practice.

  • Reflecting on the session offers the opportunity to decide what you would like to take away from the session and explore further during the coming week.

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Do I need to do anything between sessions?

The most important thing is to keep your insights from the previous session in your awareness as you go about your day-to-day looking after children or teaching. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing differently. 

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