The Norfolk Early Years Podcast
The Norfolk Early Years Podcast
Podcast Description
🎧 Welcome to the Norfolk Early Years Podcast - Let’s Talk Series! This podcast is designed to support early years practitioners and professionals in understanding more about how to effectively nurture children’s speech, language, and communication development in the early years.Each term, we’ll be joined by a variety of knowledgeable guest speakers, each specializing in different areas of communication and language. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of topics, deepening our knowledge and understanding of speech and language pedagogy and practice.✨ What to expect:o A deep dive into a broad range of communication and language-related subjectso Practical tips and insights into supporting children’s communication and language development.o The opportunity to join us at our termly Communication Hub Meetings, where you can discuss how to apply the podcast’s key concepts in your own setting. These interactive meetings are also a great opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and ask specific speech and language-related questions to our early years and speech and language colleagues.🌟 Want to join us? To book your spot at a Communication Hub Meeting, please click here.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various themes such as oracy development, the link between physical development and communication skills, and inclusive teaching strategies. Episode topics include practical strategies for enhancing oracy in early childhood education, the significance of the vestibular system in speech development, and how to create language-rich environments for children with diverse communication needs.
🎧 Welcome to the Norfolk Early Years Podcast – Let’s Talk Series! This podcast is designed to support early years practitioners and professionals in understanding more about how to effectively nurture children’s speech, language, and communication development in the early years.
Each term, we’ll be joined by a variety of knowledgeable guest speakers, each specializing in different areas of communication and language. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of topics, deepening our knowledge and understanding of speech and language pedagogy and practice.
✨ What to expect:
o A deep dive into a broad range of communication and language-related subjects
o Practical tips and insights into supporting children’s communication and language development.
o The opportunity to join us at our termly Communication Hub Meetings, where you can discuss how to apply the podcast’s key concepts in your own setting. These interactive meetings are also a great opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and ask specific speech and language-related questions to our early years and speech and language colleagues.
🌟 Want to join us? To book your spot at a Communication Hub Meeting, please click here.
For episode 3, we are delighted to welcome Kate Cairns – author, speaker, and seasoned trainer renowned internationally for her expertise in attachment, trauma, and resilience.
In this episode, we explore what we mean by the term ‘trauma’, examine how trauma shapes the way children learn to communicate, and discuss how practitioners can support children to heal from trauma, by building long-lasting and meaningful connections.
Whether you’re new to Early Years or just looking to enhance your practice, this conversation is full of insights you won’t want to miss; including the KCA ‘Five to Thrive Connection Model’; the key indicators of trauma recovery and the latest research on Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACE’s) as buffers to Adverse Childhood experiences (ACE’s).
If you’re a Norfolk Early Years Practitioner or professional, and you enjoyed this episode, we’d love for you to join us at one of our upcoming Autumn Communication Hub Meetings, beginning on 10th November 2025, where we will be joined by play therapist and early years consultant Clare Lord as we explore ‘More Than Words- The Therapeutic Power of Play’. Click here for more details.
Overview
(1:20) Kate’s Background & Career development
(3:06) What is Trauma?
(7:53) PTSD & Big T trauma
(9:10) Little T trauma
(10:39) Trauma through different lenses
(12:00) Collective trauma
(12:50) Co-regulation and trauma recovery
(14:25) The impact of trauma on communication
(15:58) The impact of trauma on behaviour
(17:20) Developmental trauma
(18:58) Age-appropriate restaging
(20:44) Five to Thrive – Connection Model
(21:32) Step 1: Respond
(22:20) Step 2: Engage
(23:11) Step 3: Relax
(23:34) The brain & the processing stage
(25:34) Non-verbal communication – Step 1, 2, 3
(26:49) Step 4: Non-verbal play
(27:17) Step 5: Talk
(28:33) The importance of key person relationships and choosing the right person.
(30:37) Working with children in the ‘freeze’ state
(32:55) Trauma Recovery; a journey not a destination
(35:06) Markers of stabilising, integrating, adapting and growing self-esteem
(38:39) Can children recover without the support of parents/carers?
(39:05) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACE’s)
(41:30) Questions for practitioners
1. Can you notice connection happening in your setting?
2. Can you notice, without any blame, when connection doesn’t happen?
(42:43) Autumn Communication Hub meetings
Disclaimer
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