The Princess of Wales has applauded a renowned Berkshire private school for providing an environment that ‘nurtures their pupil's wellbeing’.
Kate launched an Early Years Shaping Up campaign in January as part of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood which aims to highlight the significance of formative years of a child’s life.
Before a keynote speech at a symposium convened by Kate, she spoke to presenter Fearne Cotton, about the education that her youngest child, Prince Louis, receives at Lambrook School.
Kate told Cotton: “Louis’ class, they came back with a feelings wheel, it’s really good… these are five or six-year-olds, and going with names or pictures of a colour that represents how they feel that day, so there is a real keenness in school particularly to get involved in conversations.”
The Ascot School is known for its excellent facilities and education, within a close distance to the Royal’s home in Windsor.
Kate has called for “action at every level” to rebalance and restore society’s social and emotional skills as her early childhood foundation released new research on the issue.
In a speech at a symposium convened by Kate to discuss the findings, the future Queen said the skills are the “human wiring we need”.
She stressed the importance of the early years development of children and said those she had met at a “crisis point” in their lives had said that, for others to avoid their journey, a safe and loving childhood is needed.
Speaking at London’s Design Museum, which hosted the event, the princess said: “Nurturing skills that enable us to know ourselves, manage our emotions, focus our thoughts, communicate with others, foster positive relationships, and explore the world are just as valuable to our long-term success as reading, writing or arithmetic.
“These skills are the bedrock, not only for helping children to thrive, but also for restoring, protecting and investing in humankind.
“So, to rebalance and restore calls for new thinking and action at every level. Because the future for our children is something we all build together, through the actions each of us takes every day.”
The long-term project is said to be her “life’s work”, which she hopes will influence attitudes towards children in the early years period of their lives.
In her address, the future Queen asked: “What are the key skills we develop in early childhood, but continue to grow beyond it, that help establish the core foundations for life and allow us to go on to thrive as adults?”
“The task was to find a common bridge and distil a set of core skills that could be equally applied to children and adults.”
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