Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 2.1: An introduction to the role of the Early Years practitioner
Learning outcome: Understand the role of the Early Years practitioner
Assessment criteria: Describe the relationship between legislation, policies and procedures
Legislation is a set of laws that early years settings must follow to remain legally compliant.
Policies and procedures are unique to each setting and describe how particular situations are handled and the process that should be followed. By adhering to organisational policies and procedures, Early Years practitioners can ensure that their practice meets both legislation and best practices.
For example, an organisation may have an Equality Policy and Procedure that describes how they comply with the Equality Act 2010, which is a law that ensures individuals are not discriminated against based on certain ‘protected’ characteristics, such as age, gender or disability. It may describe processes, such as ensuring equal opportunities during recruitment or adapting the setting for children with additional needs.
There may also be policies and procedures in place that cover other aspects of early years practice, such as safeguarding or data protection. It is important that Early Years practitioners are familiar with all of the policies and procedures in their setting so that they can work effectively and within the law.