Prestwich programme treats Covid-related social setbacks

Begin Bright's educational programmes have been adapting the ways two to five-year-olds are taught, to allow them to develop any key social skills they missed out on due to the coronavirus lockdowns.

Project support officer and lead teacher, Hollie Jones, said: “We have had to adapt our teaching strategies and really read the children, understand what they’re open to and modify our approach to make sure each child’s confidence grows.

“A lot of children had only been around family members due to the lockdowns and nurseries closing, because of this many have struggled with building social skills, their confidence, and speaking to other adults.”

Learning colours at Begin Bright

The programme focuses on key skills such as sharing, communication and learning how to make friends before they begin primary school.

With messy play, reading and creativity also encouraged, the educational classes follow a structure, designed, and adapted by teachers, to show younger children how to work in groups as well as sitting up at a table.

Hollie added: “Children have come in and not wanted to speak or interact with us, or each other, and parents are coming back surprised by how much their child’s confidence does grow.”

Learning to read and write

The group, located at the Phoenix Centre in Prestwich, is aligned with National Curriculums to teach age-appropriate literacy, comprehension, and numeracy.  

Begin Bright was founded to fill the gap in early learning for children and is continuing this, by filling the Covid-19 sized void with socialisation.