Core Components 

Seeds of Empathy (SOE) is a nursery or classroom-based prevention programme delivered to children aged 3 – 5 years  with the aim of enhancing their socio-emotional competence and empathy. Central to the programme is a baby (2-4 months old at the first family visit) and parent(s), who visit the classroom every three to four weeks. Two trained instructors (Literacy Coaches) facilitate Literacy Circles, where children observe the baby’s development, label the baby’s feelings, and observe the infant’s attachment to the parent(s). The baby therefore serves as the teaching lever that helps the children recognise, understand, and consider their feelings, as well as the feelings of others.  

The SOE curriculum is divided into 9 themes, each theme delivered over 3 sessions; 1) Pre-family visit to prepare the children and introduce the theme; 2) Family visit; and 3) Post-family visit to reinforce the teachings from that theme. Hence SOE is delivered in 27 sessions (one session delivered weekly) which cover 9 themes and include 9 baby and parent visits. The nine themes are delivered in order. They are designed to follow along with the physical and cognitive development of the baby, and of the parent(s) experience with the baby. 

Sessions last 25-40 minutes and are delivered according to a specialised lesson plan to individual groups. Two instructors deliver the programme to each group. Instructors can deliver more than one programme, but typically do not deliver more than three programmes at a time.  SOE is delivered in Early Learning and Child Care settings. 

Activities conducted include music, literature and art activities, discussion and group activities, and other general classroom activities. These activities give the children experience in participatory democracy and consensus building; help build solidarity and empathy; and open the door to feelings and others’ perspectives. Successful SOE implementation requires strong leader support.   

Fidelity 

Fidelity is ensured by adherence to the measures below: 

• Use of certified curriculum for programme delivery 

• Practitioner training and individual mentoring support 

• Annual programme evaluation to determine programme effectiveness. 

Modifiable Components  

The programme has been delivered in several countries including Canada, USA and Wales.  

The Seeds of Empathy programme was created by Dr Mary Gordon, President of the Roots of Empathy (ROE) Organisation in Canada.   

Action for Children (AFC) is responsible for the administration of Seeds of Empathy in Scotland.  

Support for Organisation / Practice 

Implementation Support 

Implementation support is provided by Action for Children (AFC) SOE Programme Managers.  They are certified trainers or mentors and provide practitioner training to ensure structured delivery of programme curriculum. SOE also provide mentoring support to instructors during programme delivery. These include four regularly scheduled support calls (between the mentor and instructor) at key intervals in the first programme year, and three calls in subsequent years of programme delivery. Mentors are also available for support calls as required. In addition, SOE Mentors promote ongoing instructor professional development via in person or online workshops. 

SOE Programme Managers work with Early Learning, Child Care services and local community organisations to recruit SOE families. 

Licence Requirements 

There is no licence required to deliver SOE. 

Start-up Costs 

Implementation costs vary depending on instructor model employed. If the local authority instructor model is applied, practitioner training costs £1772 plus VAT. This model involves AFC providing training, accreditation, mentoring, guidance, support and supervision to a new SOE instructor. The new SOE instructor is typically chosen by the local authority/ school. This one-off cost also includes the cost of AFC quality assurance to ensure model fidelity. Annual SOE instructor reaccreditation is required, this costs £353 plus VAT. 

The AFC instructor model costs £6235 plus VAT. This model involves a trained member of AFC fulfilling the role of SOE instructor. The cost covers SOE training, mentoring and oversight, and also includes the additional cost of the AFC staff member's time over the 27 sessions. Other costs include photocopier, camera, and supplies for classroom activities. 

The above costs have been set by AFC and apply to Scotland only.  

Building Staff Competency 

Qualifications Required 

SOE instructors are often AFC staff, or nursery school / local authority staff, and they deliver the programme as part of their role. In Scotland, there are a small number of volunteer instructors who deliver the programme. SOE instructors are typically teaching assistants, early childhood educators, social workers, guidance counsellors, community volunteers, or other practitioners with background in health or recreation. One instructor delivers the curriculum to each classroom of children. SOE families (baby and parent) participate as volunteers and are recruited from the local community. 

SOE programme managers from AFC are responsible for instructor recruitment. 

Training Requirements 

Practitioner training prior to programme delivery is required. Practitioners interested in delivering SOE complete an online application and interview prior to being approved to attend the training programme. Practitioners attend four days of training and receive a curriculum manual. Training sessions include discussions on social and emotional competence in children, and curriculum instructional techniques. Training is delivered to groups of about twenty practitioners. Certification is achieved after a successful full year of programme delivery. Annual recertification is required and is achieved by continued successful delivery of the programme, and attendance of at least one in person or online professional development workshop. SOE programme resources are available on SOE Instructor dashboard. These resources support instructor’s programme delivery and deepen their understanding of the key concepts, philosophies and topics of the programme. 

Supervision Requirements 

SOE Mentors support SOE instructors in programme delivery. Mentors are contracted by SOE to maintain regular contact with instructors. Mentors observe instructors programme delivery of a group during the first year of programme delivery, and work with instructors to develop personal and professional individual plans for growth that will support programme delivery.  

Theory of Change  

Seeds of Empathy is based on the theory that children’s empathy increases as their emotional literacy and understanding of others’ perspectives increase. This is evident in the SOE programme model as it includes children’ observation of the infants’ feelings, intentions, and attachment to parent.  Therefore, helping children to understand how babies communicate and providing a mirror for their own feelings.  It also intends to help children to be more considerate of those more vulnerable than themselves.  

Values

Seeds of Empathy is an Early Learning and Child Care based programme designed to enhance socio-emotional competencies and empathy in children aged 3-5 years. At the core of this universal prevention programme are an infant and parent who visit the classroom over the course of the school year and give children the opportunity to observe the infants’ feelings, intentions, and attachment to parent.  This then enables children to understand how babies communicate and provides a mirror for their own feelings.

• Does this approach align with the key values of your organisation?

Priorities

 Seeds of Empathy is a group-based prevention programme delivered to children aged 3 – 5 years and aims to enhance their socio-emotional competencies, help build solidarity and empathy; and open the door to feelings and others’ perspectives.

• Is enhancing socio-emotional competency and empathy in children a priority for your organisation?
• Is your organisations’ priority to deliver an intervention based in an Early Learning and Child Care setting?
• Would a home visiting programme, telehealth programme or clinic based programme fit better?
• Would your organisation like to implement a programme that is delivered to classroom of children, or would an individualised programme be a better fit?
• In what environments will the programme be delivered?

Existing Initiatives

• Does your organisation have existing programmes to enhance socio-emotional competence and empathy in children?
• Are the existing initiatives effective?
• Do existing initiatives fit your current and anticipated future requirements? Can they be delivered to children aged 3-5 years?
• Are the existing initiatives Early Learning and Child Care setting based?
• Are they delivered to a group of children or are they individualised programmes?
• Are there components that SOE addresses that are not met by existing programmes?

Workforce 

Instructors are often AFC staff, or nursery, school based/ local authority staff who deliver the programme as part of their role. SOE instructors are typically teaching assistants, early childhood educators, social workers, guidance counsellors, or other practitioners with a background in health or recreation.  

Certification as a SOE Instructor is achieved after a successful full year of programme delivery. One certified instructor delivers the curriculum to each group of children. Instructors can deliver more than one programme to cover the year group, but typically do not deliver more than three programmes at a time. 

• Can your organisation identify qualified volunteers or staff within the from community/school/local authority who are interested in learning and delivering this programme?
• Do they have sufficient time to undertake training, delivery and certification? Will an AFC staff deliver the programme instead?
• Does your organisation have a head teacher and teachers who are or will be supportive of the programme?
• How many classes will the SOE be delivered to in the first year?
• Based on this, how many practitioners will receive training in the first year?

Technology Support 

A photocopier and digital camera (to take photos during family visits) are needed to deliver the programme. 

• Will your instructors have access to a photocopier and digital camera? Can these be made available?

Administrative Support 

Parental consent is required use any photographs taken in the SOE classrooms.  

• Are there policies and procedures in place regarding the taking pictures and storing of these pictures?
• How will parental consent be obtained?
• Does your organisation have administrative capacity and systems to support a classroom intervention?

Financial Support 

The local authority instructor model costs £1772 plus VAT, and annual re-accreditation costs £353 plus VAT.  

The AFC instructor model costs £6235 plus VAT. One instructor delivers the programme to each group which are not combined.  Instructors can deliver more than one programme to cover the year group, but typically do not deliver more than three programmes at a time. 

• Which Instructor model will be applied?
• If the local authority model is to be applied, how many practitioners will be trained?
• Can training and annual recertification be financially supported?
• If the AFC model is applied, how many programmes will instructors deliver? Can this be financially supported?
• Can this be financially supported?

Comparable Population  

Seeds of Empathy is a group-based programme designed to enhance socio-emotional competencies and empathy in children aged 3-5 years.  

• Is this comparable to the population your organisation would like to serve?

Desired Outcome 

Seeds of Empathy aims to enhance children aged 3-5 years socio-emotional competencies, help build solidarity and empathy; and open the door to feelings and others’ perspectives.  

• Are the above outcomes priorities for your organisation?
• Does your organisation have other initiatives in place that effectively and efficiency address the above outcomes?