How to Implement Reflective Practice in Your Early Years Setting
Reflective practice is about recognising what’s working, making adjustments to what isn’t, and continually improving the teaching and learning experiences we offer children. For many of us, though, the skill of reflection doesn’t always come easily. It can be challenging to critically review our own practices, celebrate our strengths, and identify areas for growth. That’s why, in this blog, we’ll explore the importance of reflective practice in early years education and share some top tips to help you apply it in your own setting.
The importance of reflective practice in early years
Reflective practice is the foundation of quality early years education, by taking the time to reflect, we can build on what’s working, make improvements where needed, and ensure every child has the best possible start.
In the fast-paced world of early years, it’s easy to get caught up in daily routines and miss opportunities to grow and develop. However, reflective practice encourages us to pause, think, and learn from our experiences. This process helps us stay in tune with the children’s needs, adapt to their unique ways of learning, and continually refine our approaches.
Reflective practice isn’t just about improvement—it also boosts confidence and job satisfaction. By identifying our strengths, we can celebrate the positive impact we have on children’s lives. At the same time, recognising areas for development help us set meaningful goals and stay motivated to grow as professionals.
Whether you’re reviewing a specific activity or thinking about your overall approach, reflection allows you to remain flexible and creative. It ensures that your practice stays fresh, responsive, and focused on the individual needs of every child. It’s a powerful tool that benefits not just the children, but also you and your team, creating a stronger, more supportive learning environment for everyone.
Embedding reflective practice in your nursery culture
We know that reflective practice is beneficial but making it a natural part of your nursery culture ensures everybody is on the same page, working towards shared goals – improving the learning outcomes for children. When reflection becomes a shared value across your team, it encourages everyone to continually learn, grow, and improve together.
Here are some ideas to help embed reflective practice into your nursery’s daily routine:
1. Lead by example:
Leadership plays a key role in creating a reflective culture. When managers and senior staff model reflective practice by sharing their own experiences, challenges, and insights, it encourages the entire team to do the same.
2. Create safe spaces for reflection:
Encourage open and honest conversations by creating a safe, non-judgmental environment. Team meetings, one-to-ones, or informal chats can be great opportunities to discuss what’s working well and explore areas for improvement.
3. Incorporate reflection into daily routines:
Make reflection a regular part of your day. For example, schedule time at the end of each day or week for staff to jot down quick notes about activities that went well or areas they’d like to adjust. These small moments of reflection can lead to big improvements.
4. Encourage collaborative reflection:
Reflection doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Encourage team members to share ideas and learn from each other’s perspectives. Group reflections can lead to fresh insights and creative solutions.
5. Celebrate successes:
Don’t forget to celebrate wins—big or small. Reflective practice isn’t just about finding areas for improvement; it’s also about recognising and reinforcing what’s working well. This helps to boost morale and inspire further growth.
6. Provide tools and training:
Equip your team with the tools they need to reflect effectively. Whether it’s reflection templates, training on reflective techniques, or digital tools to capture thoughts, providing the right resources can make the process more accessible and consistent.
7. Link reflection to development goals:
Use reflection as a springboard for professional development. Encourage staff to set goals based on their reflections and support them in achieving these through mentoring, training, or further learning opportunities.
Using peer observations to reflect
As we’ve mentioned, reflective practice can be tricky—it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Some of us may find it easy to reflect but tend to be overly critical of ourselves, while others might struggle to reflect on their practice at all. This isn’t a weakness; it’s simply a different way of thinking. That’s where peer observations can be incredibly valuable.
Peer observations in early years settings involve educators observing each other’s interactions with children and overall teaching approaches. This structured practice creates opportunities to reflect, learn, and collaboratively improve teaching methods. It’s a great way to identify effective strategies and best practices that enhance children’s learning, engagement, and development.
How peer observations work
During a peer observation, one educator observes another as they work with children, noting strengths and potential areas for improvement. Afterwards, both educators come together to discuss what went well, share insights, and identify ways to enhance practice.
This process not only promotes individual growth but also strengthens teamwork and support within the setting. When educators share observations and reflections, it creates a positive learning environment where everyone benefits.
Benefits of peer observations
Encourages continuous professional development: observing others can reveal areas where additional training or support might be helpful, such as understanding child development theories or new teaching techniques.
Builds confidence and collaboration: by sharing constructive feedback, educators learn from one another and feel supported in their professional growth.
Strengthens reflective practice skills: whether you’re observing or being observed, the process helps you develop a more balanced and thoughtful approach to reflection.
Tips for effective peer observations
Peer observations should be a positive, constructive experience that inspires growth rather than criticism. To ensure they’re successful:
Start with management modelling: if peer observations are new to your setting, have managers or senior staff model the process first. This sets the tone and provides a clear example for others to follow.
Use templates: templates can be helpful in guiding observations, and ensuring feedback is focused on specific aspects of practice.
Be empathetic: peer feedback can feel personal, so approach it with sensitivity. Use encouraging language and focus on strengths as well as areas for growth.
Keep it collaborative: the goal is to support each other, so keep discussions open, respectful, and focused on learning.
Peer observations are a fantastic way to inspire reflective practice across your team. Whether you’re observing or being observed, the process helps everyone grow, develop new ideas, and feel more connected as a team.
We hope you’ve found this blog helpful! We’d love to hear how you implement reflective practice in your setting. Feel free to share your ideas with us at marketing@connectchildcare.com, and you might even be featured in one of our future blog articles!
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About the Author
Content Marketing Executive at Connect Childcare