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: Use communication methods that meet individuals’ communication needs and preferences
For this assessment criterion, you will be required to demonstrate that you are able to use communication methods that meet an individual’s communication needs and preferences.
There are many ways that this could be achieved.
For example, when speaking to children you should communicate positively and use simple words and sentences that are appropriate for the child’s age and stage of development. In addition, you should ensure that you give children enough time to answer and use prompts to help them to learn new concepts.
If a child makes a mistake – for example, pronouncing a word incorrectly – rather than correcting them, you should simply repeat what they said back to them using the correct pronunciation.
Although babies will not yet have learned to communicate verbally, it is important to speak to them so that they are exposed to language, which will help them to develop language skills as they get older. The use of positive body language and facial expressions, as well as songs, rhyme and ‘gobbledegook’ talk, are also great ways to interact with babies.
Some children or adults may have additional communication needs. For example, a child or parent/carer may have a learning disability and so you may need to communicate with them using simple sentences with only a few keywords or via the use of Makaton.
If an individual is visually or hearing impaired, the use of communication methods such as large-text, braille, audio, and British Sign Language (BSL) may be used.