What is attachment?

The booklet is for early years workers working with young children under five - be it in a nursery, hospital, community or family setting.

If you already work with young children under five, you will have definitely come across the ideas of attachment during your training. What might not be so clear is how you can best use the learning behind attachment ideas in your daily work.

This booklet explains in simple terms:

• what exactly an ‘attachment informed’ approach to childcare is;

• how you can use attachment ideas in your practice to support positive relationships with the children in your care;

• what you should look out for if you are concerned about a child’s attachment style in your setting; and

• how you can support parents and carers to develop healthy and strong