Pen Green Centre for children and their families

Relationships in the Early Years Network

Session 3: Professional Love in Early Years Practice – with Jools Page

In this session, Jools will introduce her research on professional love and the important role it plays in supporting young children’s emotional security, learning and development. Drawing on her work with early years practitioners, she will explore how professional love is expressed in practice through warmth, attunement, care and commitment, and why this is central to high-quality early years provision.

The session will offer an opportunity to:

• Reflect on what professional love means in the context of early years work
• Consider how practitioners balance emotional closeness with professionalism
• Explore the ethical and relational dimensions of the key person role
• Discuss how professional love supports children’s wellbeing, belonging and secure relationships
• Share examples of practice and consider how this approach can be sustained within complex and pressured systems

This session will continue to provide a reflective, supportive space for practitioners across the East Midlands to connect, share experiences and strengthen relational practice in their settings.