Context and principles for early year’s progression
1.1 Explain the legal status and principles of the relevant early year’s framework/s, and how national and local guidance materials are used in settings
The legal status of learning that we must follow is the EYFS (Early year’s foundation stage) and the ECM (every child matters). The local guidance is that we must do our own two year checks and also our own referrals where children may need extra support. To support the implementation of the national framework each country has also developed guidance, information about the statutory elements, and training materials. Common features of the early years framework depends on the nation as they may have a different approach to the care and education of young children but they do all have some common features. Such as
• Partnership and involvement with parents
• Learning through active play
• Need for children to have opportunities for child- initiated and adult- directed activities
• Education programme is to be delivered holistically although divided into areas of learning
• Importance of assessing children’s individual needs.
There are also some differences particularly in the statutory nature of work with children 3 and under, as it is only England that brings work with children aged less than 3 years into a statutory education framework.
1.2 Explain how different approaches to work with children in the early years has influenced current provision in the UK
There has been
1. Setting the standards for the learning, development and care, ensuring that every child makes progress and that no child gets left behind. Parents, providers should deliver individualised learning, development and care that enhances the development of the children in their care and gives those children the best possible start in life. Every child should be supported individually to make progress at their own pace and children who need extra support to fulfil their potential should receive special consideration. All providers have an equally important role to play in children’s early years experiences and they have to ensure that the provision they deliver is both appropriate to children’ needs and complementary to the education and care provided in child’s other settings.
The way we interact with our colleagues and others in society is regulated by law. The Equality Act 2010 brings together all previous acts relating to equality and discrimination. The Act applies to all services provided to the public. The Act protects all individuals and groups from discrimination. Early years settings must be aware of these laws and have a policy in place regarding equality of opportunities and for supporting
It was in 1996 that the first UK curriculum was introduced which was called ‘Desirable Outcomes’. Within the document were learning outcomes to be achieved by all children by the age of five and being a centralised system, an inspection scheme was also introduced. In this article Soler and Miller (2010) highlight how these changes were perceived to be shaping the early childhood curriculum from the outside rather than from within the early childhood community.
In England, pre-school and nursery education is provided for within a wide range of settings including all pre-school groups, play groups , nursery centers, day nurseries, nursery schools and reception classes ( children aged 4-5 years) in primary schools.
Throughout my years as a childcare practitioner, I have accumulated a wide range of experience working with children aged 3 – 11. However, the majority of my experience is with children aged 3-5. Through
An explanation of how different approaches to work with children in early years have affected current provision in the UK
Law and guidance regulate the way you should work with children in your childcare setting to support and encourage their well-being and safeguard them from abuse and maltreatment. Legislation provides a comprehensive instruction on what must be attained in respect to child protection and safeguarding. Whereas Legal guidance is more precise and provides details on how the law ought to be applied and fulfilled in early years settings and services. Laws and statutory regulation are compulsory and should reinforce policies and procedures that are used in your setting.
Every Child Matters Framework which is currently in the process to be changed is part of the Children Act 2004; it is a piece of legislation which has and influences planning and provisions of learning opportunities. The Every Child Matters ensures that settings provide quality of children’s and young people’s play and learning.This supports children from birth to 19 years. When practitioners plan, they should relate their work to the five outcomes for children; be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve though learning, make a positive contribution to society and achieve economic
M1- Discuss how policies and procedures help children, young people and their families whilst the child is being looked after.
Explain how current and relevant legislation and policy affects work with children and young people.
The children act 1989 has influenced some settings by bringing together several sets of guidance and provided the foundation for many of the standards practitioners sustain and maintain when working with children. The act requires that settings work together in the best interests of the child and form partnerships with parents or carers. It requires settings to have appropriate adult to child ratios and policies and procedures on child protection. This act has had an influence in all areas of practice from planning a curriculum and record keeping. The every child matters framework has
1.1 Outline current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedure within own UK Home Nation affecting the safeguarding of children and young people.
Theories of development and frameworks to support development are incredibly important to us working with children and young people. They help us to understand children, how they react to things/situations, their behaviour and the ways they learn. Different theories and ways of working with children have come together to provide frameworks for children’s care, such as Early year’s foundation stage (EYFS) which is used within all child care settings. This encourages us to work together, help and check the development of babies, children and young people, to keep them healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to
Discuss the role of the early years practitioner in planning provision to meet the needs of the child.
The ‘Children’s Act 2004’ was continuously updated and developed into the ‘Children’s Act 2006’. This act states that all settings have to follow the Early Years Framework Stages (which were renewed in 2012). The Early Years Framework Stages (EYFS) is aimed to fulfil the five aims of ‘every child matters’ and the previous children’s act of 2004. The intentions are to achieve these aims by setting standards, promote equal opportunities and through a framework of partnerships, improve quality and consistency and lay secure foundation for all learning and development, present and future. By improving the quality the service and experiences are improved for all children and families. Safeguarding children is a vital part of improving all childcare services/settings.