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: Be able to communicate to meet individuals’ needs and preferences
Assessment criteria: Explain how communication affects all aspects of own practice
In the previous section, we explored the reasons that people communicate and some of the communication methods that might be used.
Clearly, communication is an important skill for all Early Years practitioners and will affect all aspects of their practice.
For example, practitioners must regularly communicate with parents/carers, team members, managers and other professionals. They will also need to communicate with children, supporting them to express their needs and feelings and helping them to make progress in their learning.
Children and adults with additional needs will require additional support with communication, and practitioners will need to be aware of the different methods that can be used to support them. For example, if a parent has impaired hearing, the practitioner may need to ensure that they are facing the individual when talking so that they are able to read their lips.
Practitioners will also need to use their communication skills when observing and assessing children’s learning and development. They will need to communicate their findings clearly and effectively to inform planning and support children’s individual needs.
It is clear that communication is a key skill for all Early Years practitioners.