Institutional characteristics and staff behaviour in day nurseries

SUMMARY. The authors report on a research project aimed at identifying differences between day nurseries in relation to staff and child behaviour. Six day nurseries were studied in London: staff levels and behaviour were measured against child behaviour and interactions between adults and children. They conclude that management styles, group size and staff attitudes to parents affect staff behaviour and consequently problem behaviour in children. The work was supported by a grant from the Department of Health and Social Security This paper is based in part upon a presentation to the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society, Leeds, April 1988