Early years practitioner

Knowledge

K1: How children learn and the expected pattern of babies' and children’s development from birth to 5 years and their further development from ages 5 to 7. Areas of development include: cognitive, speech, language and communication, physical, emotional, social, brain development and literacy and numeracy. Back to Duty

K2: The importance to children’s holistic development of, speech, language and communication, personal, social and emotional development, physical development and literacy and numeracy. Back to Duty

K3: How babies’ and young children’s learning and development can be affected by their stage of development, well-being and individual circumstances. Back to Duty

K4: The significance of attachment, the key person's role and how transitions and other significant events impact children at different ages and stages. Back to Duty

K5: The legal requirements and guidance on safeguarding, including Prevent, security, confidentiality of information and promoting the welfare of children. Back to Duty

K6: Safeguarding policies and procedures, including child protection and online safety. Back to Duty

K7: Own role and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and security, including child protection, recording and reporting, whistle blowing and confidentiality of information. Back to Duty

K8: The legal requirements and guidance for health and safety. Back to Duty

K9: Risks and hazards in the provision and during off site visits. Back to Duty

K10: Own role and responsibilities, including identifying risks and hazards and the recording and reporting in the event of a baby or young child requiring medical/ dental attention, a non-medical incident or emergency. Back to Duty

K11: The provision’s procedures for receiving, storing, recording, administering and the safe disposal of medicines. Back to Duty

K12: The signs and symptoms which may indicate that a child is injured, unwell (including common childhood illnesses and allergies) or in need of urgent medical/ dental attention. Back to Duty

K13: The impact of health and wellbeing on children’s development. Back to Duty

K14: The current dietary guidance for early years and why it is important for babies and young children to have a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet and be physically active. Back to Duty

K15: Ways to communicate with all children appropriate for all their stages of development, including those for whom English is an additional language (EAL) or who have delayed speech. Back to Duty

K16: The statutory framework, including the learning and development requirements for babies and young children’s provision. Back to Duty

K17: The principles of enabling environments (indoor and outdoor), adult-led activities, child-initiated activities and spontaneous experiences. Back to Duty

K18: The key stages in the observation, assessment and planning cycle and the value of observation for the child, the parents or carers and the early years provision in planning the next steps. Back to Duty

K19: How to refer concerns about a baby’s or child’s development. Back to Duty

K20: The statutory guidance in relation to the care and education of children with special educational needs and disabilities. Back to Duty

K21: Partnership working, including parents or carers, in relation to working effectively with children with special educational needs and disabilities. Back to Duty

K22: What specialist aids, resources and equipment are available for the children in the provision and how to use these safely. Back to Duty

K23: Own role and expected behaviours and the roles of colleagues and the team. Back to Duty

K24: How to access workplace policies and procedures and your own responsibilities and accountabilities relating to these. Back to Duty

K25: How own behaviour can impact on babies and children and influence them. Back to Duty

K26: Own responsibilities when following procedures in the provision for recording and reporting protecting and promoting the welfare of children, safeguarding, confidentiality, information sharing and use of technology. Back to Duty

K27: The importance of reflective practice and continued professional development to improve own skills and early years practice. Back to Duty

K28: The roles and responsibilities of other agencies and professionals that work with and support the provision, both statutory and non-statutory. Back to Duty

K29: The importance of the voice of the child, parental or carer engagement, the home learning environment and their roles in early learning. Back to Duty

K30: The importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion, and respecting children’s social and cultural context. Back to Duty

K31: Ways to increase children’s awareness of environmental sustainability. Back to Duty

K32: Prevention and control of infection techniques, including hand washing, food preparation and hygiene and how to deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Support babies and young children through a range of transitions and significant events. e.g moving onto school, moving house or the birth of a sibling. Back to Duty

S2: Recognise when a child is in danger, at risk of serious harm or abuse and explain the procedures to be followed to protect them. Types of abuse including: domestic, neglect , physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Back to Duty

S3: Identify risks and hazards in the provision and during off site visits relating to both children and staff and visitors and follow reporting procedures. Back to Duty

S4: Use prevention and control of infection techniques for hand washing and food preparation and hygiene, deal with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste, using correct personal protective equipment. Back to Duty

S5: Use equipment, furniture and materials safely and securely, following the manufacturers’ instructions and provision’s requirements. Back to Duty

S6: Encourage children to be aware of personal safety and the safety of others and develop personal hygiene practices (including oral hygiene). Back to Duty

S7: Promote health and wellbeing in the provision by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy, balanced and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks appropriate for their age and be physically active through planned and spontaneous activity throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors. Back to Duty

S8: Carry out respectful care routines appropriate to the development, stage, dignity and needs of the child, including eating (feeding and weaning or complementary feeding), nappy changing procedures, potty or toilet training, care of skin, teeth and hair and rest and sleep provision. Back to Duty

S9: Communicate with all children, including those for whom English is an additional language and those with additional needs, in ways that will be understood. This includes verbal and non-verbal communication. Back to Duty

S10: Extend children’s development and learning through verbal and non-verbal communication. Back to Duty

S11: Encourage babies and young children to use a range of communication methods. Back to Duty

S12: Use a range of appropriate communication methods to share information with children, parents or carers and other professionals. Back to Duty

S13: Work with colleagues to identify and plan educational programmes to support children’s holistic development through a range of play, creativity, social development and learning. Back to Duty

S14: Implement and review activities to support children’s play, creativity, social development and learning and clear up after activities. Back to Duty

S15: Observe children, assess, plan and record the outcomes, share results accurately and confidentially in line with expected statutory and the provision’s requirements. Back to Duty

S16: Use learning activities to support early language development. Back to Duty

S17: Support children’s early interest and development in mark making, writing, reading and being read to. Back to Duty

S18: Support children’s interest and development in mathematical learning including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching. Back to Duty

S19: Support the graduated approach for the assessment, planning, implementation and reviewing of each baby’s and young child's individual plan for their care and participation. Back to Duty

S20: Work in ways that value and respect the developmental needs and stages of babies and children. Back to Duty

S21: Use feedback and mentoring or supervision to identify and support areas for development, goals and career opportunities. Back to Duty

S22: Work co-operatively with colleagues, other professionals and agencies to meet the needs of babies and young children and enable them to progress. Back to Duty

S23: Work alongside parents or carers and recognise their role in the baby or child’s health, well-being, learning and development. Back to Duty

S24: Encourage parents or carers to take an active role in the baby's or child’s care, play, learning and development. Back to Duty

S25: Demonstrate how to share information with parents or carers about the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritious diets for their child, looking after teeth and being physically active. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Care and compassion - provide the very best childcare to every child every day combined with the ability to identify opportunities for their development. Back to Duty

B2: Honesty, trust and integrity - develop trust by working in a confidential, ethical and empathetic manner with a common sense and professional attitude. Back to Duty

B3: Positive work ethic – maintains professional standards within the work environment providing a positive role model for children. Back to Duty

B4: Being team-focused - work effectively with colleagues and other professionals. Back to Duty

B5: Commitment - to improving the outcomes for children through inspiration and child centred care and education. Back to Duty

B6: Recognise and respect differences and ensuring all children have equal access to opportunities to learn, develop and reach their potential. Back to Duty

B7: Professional Practice – be a reflective practitioner with a commitment to continued professional development adhering to legislation, policy and procedure with a positive disposition to work. Back to Duty

B8: Work in ways which consider fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of the law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Back to Duty