Invitation to the Circle of Security Parenting Course
A New Initiative
Dear Families
We have exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that, as part of our Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028, we are offering the Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) course to all families enrolled at West Coast Steiner School. This is an incredibly exciting and innovative commitment for a school and we are proud to be leaders in this area.
Our Strategic Plan identifies key areas of focus including improving student wellbeing, academic outcomes and school culture. Embedding an internationally renowned, evidence based program, such as the Circle of Security at WCSS will nourish and support all of these areas.
Due to the passion and dedication of a WCSS staff member, who championed this initiative and secured a grant, I completed the Circle of Security Facilitator course earlier this year. COS is close to my heart. I have a degree in Communications and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, have worked at WCSS for over 7 years, and completed the COS Parenting Course many years ago. It fundamentally changed my approach to parenting and I still utilise it every day with my teenagers! I have also completed the COS Classroom Practice Course which adapts the Circle for teaching staff to use with multiple children in an educational setting. Over my time at WCSS I have participated in professional development grounded in anthroposophy and Steiner pedagogy and can attest to how well the Circle aligns with those principles and values.
COS is a transformative program which allows participants to learn, understand, and make mistakes without judgement. The program fosters not only healthy relationships between caregivers and children, but lifelong benefits for the child.
Teachers and school staff can also be significant attachment figures for students and as such, all WCSS staff will be offered COS. Almost all of our Early Childhood staff and many of our Primary and Administration staff have already completed the course. This allows our community a shared understanding and language to work cooperatively to support the children.
COSP helps participants understand the concepts of the Circle, learn how to identify what they are seeing in their children, and discover the best ways to respond so that they meet the emotional needs of their child.
Completing the COS course when your children are young has a myriad of benefits for not only your relationship with your child, but for their lifelong development.
Research shows that attachment problems in infancy and early childhood increase the probability of psychopathology later in life. Conversely, children who have a secure attachment will benefit in the following ways:
- They will feel more happiness and less anger at their parents
- They can solve problems on their own and ask for help when they are in trouble
- They have lasting friendships and get along better with their friends
- They have better sibling relationships
- They feel better about themselves and what they can contribute
- They are more protected against feeling hopeless or helpless about life
- They trust the people they love and know how to be kind
- They believe that good things will happen.
You can learn more about COS at their website.
COS is a small group course and so spaces are limited. We are preferencing Kindergarten 6 parents/caregivers for the offerings this year. This will assist as many K6 families as possible to access the course prior to entering primary school.
The course is comprised of 8 weekly 2hr sessions and fidelity to the course and 100% attendance is required (make up classes are available by arrangement should you miss one!). The course will be held on Saturday mornings at WCSS from 9am - 11am from July 26 - September 13. Spaces are very limited so please express your interest via email or by speaking with your teacher today.
If you would like to discuss the course content further or have any questions feel free to email or speak with me directly.
Julia Nevols
Enrolments, Marketing and Parent Education
enrolments@wcss.wa.edu.au
