Early years Care Values

Question 1

How many values of care for early years have been produced?

Answer 1

10

Question 2

What does Fostering equality of opportunity mean?

Answer 2

This is when each child should be offered equality of access and opportunities to learn and develop.

Question 3

Give an example of fostering equality of opportunity

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What does making welfare of the child paramount mean?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Give an example of making welfare of a child paramount

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What does maintaining confidentiality of information mean?

Answer 6

Private information about children and parents should not be shared with others without consent (unless it’s on a need-to-know basis).

Question 7

Give an example of maintaining confidentiality of information

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What does Valuing diversity mean?

Answer 8

Differences between people should be identified as positive. Children should be encouraged to learn about how important it is to be unique.

Question 9

Give an example of valuing diversity

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What does Ensuring anti-discrimination mean?

Answer 10

Negative attitudes and prejudices by children and adults should be challenged.

Question 11

Give an example of ensuring anti-discrimination

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

What does working in partnership with other professionals mean?

Answer 12

Working with other professionals is essential for development but should only be carried out with consent.

Question 13

Give an example of working in partnership with other professionals

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What does being a reflective practitioner mean?

Answer 14

Early years practitioners need to think about their own practice and plan for development.

Question 15

Give an example of being a reflective practitioner

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What does working in partnership with parents and families mean?

Answer 16

Information should be openly shared with family members about children’s learning and development.

Question 17

Give an example of working in partnership with parents and families

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

What does keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment mean?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Give an example of keeping children safe and maintaining a healthy environment

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

What does encouraging children’s learning and development mean?

Answer 20

Children should be offered a range of experiences and activities that support all aspects of development for example PIES (physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially).

Question 21

Give an example of encouraging children’s learning and development

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Why do children need more values of care than an adult over the age of 18?

Answer 22

Because children are more vulnerable and have less responsibilities and more legislation needs to be followed

Question 23

In the case of a vulnerable child what would we use in order to speak on their behalf?

Answer 23

An advocate

Question 24

Give four ways nursery staff could ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in their care?

Answer 24

DBS for staff
Policies e.g safe guarding/bullying
Health guidelines
Security e.g locked gates/CCTV

Question 25

Describe how an early years setting could ensure its resources and environment promote gender equality.

Answer 25

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

Question 26

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]

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Justify your choice of answers to the question above

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Analyse how holding the parent and carer information evening from the case study above is an example of good practice.

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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.

Answer 29

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