Early years Care Values Flashcards
How many values of care for early years have been produced?
10
What does Fostering equality of opportunity mean?
This is when each child should be offered equality of access and opportunities to learn and develop.
Give an example of fostering equality of opportunity
For example in a nursery , each child should be given the same opportunities to be offered help and support while learning and none should be favoured over others.
What does making welfare of the child paramount mean?
Children should be put first. They must be listened to. Their needs and views must be considered at all times in order to ensure they are able to grow and develop effectively.
Give an example of making welfare of a child paramount
This care value can be demonstrated in a scenario such as a nursery if a child asks for something regarding help to allow them to grow and develop they must be listened too, for example if there is a child who struggles more than others they may require more help to suit their needs and to ensure they are able to grow and develop as much as other children.
What does maintaining confidentiality of information mean?
Private information about children and parents should not be shared with others without consent (unless it’s on a need-to-know basis).
Give an example of maintaining confidentiality of information
Each child’s individual personal information should be kept password protected for example on a teacher’s computer where only that person can access it. Their information should not be discussed with any other staff members or any other individual unless it is a need to know basis where the child has told the staff member something that makes them vulnerable and in danger then that staff member should share the information with someone who can help the child.
What does Valuing diversity mean?
Differences between people should be identified as positive. Children should be encouraged to learn about how important it is to be unique.
Give an example of valuing diversity
For example, within a nursery there may be children in the nursery from different religions who have different beliefs therefore the teacher should explain to them about the positives of being different and unique and positively explain to them that children have may differences across many topics of being an individual person.
What does Ensuring anti-discrimination mean?
Negative attitudes and prejudices by children and adults should be challenged.
Give an example of ensuring anti-discrimination
For example, in a workplace they should not tolerate bad behaviour or comments towards other individuals for example based upon religion, race, disability, sex ect, if this was to happen the individual should be challenge and disciplined upon.
What does working in partnership with other professionals mean?
Working with other professionals is essential for development but should only be carried out with consent.
Give an example of working in partnership with other professionals
For example, in a school the teachers and staff should work closely with social services and the police to allow children to remain safe at all times within an environment. This will allow these services to be a close call of contact if a child is in danger or at risk of experiencing a dangerous action, this also allows the local authorities to have the duty to safeguard.
What does being a reflective practitioner mean?
Early years practitioners need to think about their own practice and plan for development.
Give an example of being a reflective practitioner
For example, staff within a school should reflect and improve upon their lessons by observing their own lessons with an iPad by recording it this will give the individual the opportunity to watch back and look what their lesson looks like in a different perspective allowing them to make personal improvements by self-assessing and improving their teaching lessons to allow them to be at the highest standard.
What does working in partnership with parents and families mean?
Information should be openly shared with family members about children’s learning and development.
Give an example of working in partnership with parents and families
For example, within a school parents’ evenings and regular catch ups to inform the child’s parents/families on how they are developing within the nursery or year group and if there are any problems associating the child they can be discussed.
What does keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment mean?
The environment that a child is associated in should enable children to feel comfortable and safe. Their environment should encourage a healthy lifestyle and approach to learning.
Give an example of keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment
An example within a school could be the teacher should carry out risk assessments targeting the environment the children are associated in to ensure it is fully safe and there is no risk of danger.
What does encouraging children’s learning and development mean?
Children should be offered a range of experiences and activities that support all aspects of development for example PIES (physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially).
Give an example of encouraging children’s learning and development
For example, In a nursery this care value can be demonstrated for example, there should be activities within the nursery that are suitable to all aspects of development, this could include activities in the playground that will positively impact the children physically the teacher could organise games that allow the children to physically move around.
Why do children need more values of care than an adult over the age of 18?
Because children are more vulnerable and have less responsibilities and more legislation needs to be followed
In the case of a vulnerable child what would we use in order to speak on their behalf?
An advocate
Give four ways nursery staff could ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in their care?
DBS for staff
Policies e.g safe guarding/bullying
Health guidelines
Security e.g locked gates/CCTV
Describe how an early years setting could ensure its resources and environment promote gender equality.
Promoting gender equality in an early years setting:
Resources:
have male and female staff
staff trained in equality
books / dvds that show both men and women in
leading roles – not stereotypical roles
have mixed sports teams
Environment:
displays should reflect equal opportunities for
men and women female pilot, male nurse etc
non-sexist language used by staff in the setting
encourage girls and boys to play together
Read the following scenario:
Parent and carer information evening at Leigh Hall Nursery School
We are holding an information evening on Tuesday at 6.30pm, and we will be delighted if
you are able to join us. The session will focus on reading and writing, and is intended to
give you more in depth knowledge of how we work in our nursery, and also to enable you
to help your child more effectively. Refreshments will be provided and you will have the
chance to talk to our staff.
(a) During the information evening, a parent tells a member of staff that her daughter, Sarah, is feeling upset because her grandmother is seriously ill in hospital. The parent wants the member of staff to keep an eye on Sarah to make sure she is ok, but does not want anyone else to know about the situation. How should the member of staff respond to this situation? Choose the three most appropriate actions from the list below. Tick three only. Possible responses: Tick three only - Promise to keep an eye on Sarah and not to tell anyone else. -Note the information on Sarah’s confidential personal record file. -Tell the parent that other staff who work with Sarah will need to know about the situation. -Confidentially inform all the other staff at the next staff meeting, so that they can all keep an eye on Sarah. -Tell the parent that she will keep an eye on Sarah and will only tell other staff if she has to. -Consult with the nursery manager to check how to deal with the situation. -The next day tell Sarah she knows about her grandmother being ill and she is not to worry too much about it. -Keep an eye on Sarah as requested and informally let other staff know about Sarah’s grandmother. [3]
One mark for each correct answer, three required.
Note the information on Sarah’s confidential personal
record file.
Tell the parent that other staff who work with Sarah will need to know about the situation.
Consult with the nursery manager to check how to deal with the situation.
Justify your choice of answers to the question above
Examples of justification:
it is good practice to check how to deal with a
situation correctly, to ensure appropriate action
is taken / obtain advice
important to have up to date, accurate records
the parent has a right to know that the information will be shared
important information about individuals in care
settings should be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis to inform the care provided
enables staff to provide individualised / person centred care / child’s welfare is paramount
staff working with Sarah ‘need to know’ about something serious that will be affecting her
emotionally
enables staff to be understanding of Sarah’s
situation
it is good practice to keep senior staff such as
the nursery manager informed
senior staff may be aware of additional
information about the child which may be
shared on a ‘need to know’ basis
only sharing information on a ‘need to know’
basis follows confidentiality guidelines / policy /
legislation
Analyse how holding the parent and carer information evening from the case study above is an example of good practice.
Aspects of good practice:
applying the values of care
working in partnership with parents/guardians and families
builds relationships/ trust / between staff and parents/carers
making the welfare of the child paramount
encouraging children’s learning and development
opportunity for parents to ask questions
parents get to know the staff who are caring for their child
providing important information – parents informed about routines, policies etc
familiarises parents with the learning / nursery environment
promotes an inclusive approach
sharing of information / concerns / progress update
timing accessible – parents can attend after work/refreshments
Sandra is a childminder who cares for six children under 5 years old. Her recent OFSTED inspection report stated the following:
• the childminder has a first aid certificate
• the childminder has a level two childcare qualification
• there is a fully enclosed play area available for outside play
• children are not adequately protected from the childminder’s dog
• there are effective relationships with parents/carers of the children
• food preparation areas are not clean
• the childminder admits to sometimes falling asleep while caring for the children and so
they are not always supervised
• written records of children’s accidents and first aid treatment are not available
• documents and policies required are not available for this inspection
• children’s interests, individual needs and stage of development are not considered
• there is no support for a child with disabilities or children with English as an additional language
Evaluate how effectively the values of care are being applied by Sandra.
Early Years values of care:
making the welfare of the child paramount
keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy
environment
working in partnership with parents/guardians and families
encouraging children’s learning and development
valuing diversity
ensuring equality of opportunity
anti-discriminatory practice
working with others/professionals
No credit for just naming a value of care.
Strengths:
the childminder has a first aid certificate- so children are
safe/healthy
the childminder has a level two childcare qualification –
helps ensure equality of opportunity maintenance of
standards
there is a fully enclosed play area available for outside play keeping children safe
there are effective/positive relationships with parents/carers of the children- maintain working partnerships
Weaknesses:
children are not adequately protected from the childminder’s dog - children not safe
food preparation areas are not clean- children at risk
the childminder admits to sometimes falling asleep while caring for the children and so they are not always
supervised – children at risk
written records of children’s accidents and first aid treatment are not available.- can make children at risk damage working relationships/ continuity of care
documents and policies required are not available for the inspection- may indicate discriminatory practice
children’s interests, individual needs and stage of
development are not considered- not encouraging learning and development
there is no support for a child with disabilities or children with English as an additional language -may indicate discriminatory practice
