Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 3.13: Support children with additional needs
Learning outcome: Understand how personal experiences, values and beliefs impact on the role of the Early Years practitioner
Assessment criteria: Analyse how personal experiences, values and beliefs impact on the professional practice of the Early Years practitioner
As a professional in the early years sector, considering how your identity impacts on your practice is an essential component of providing quality service to young children. Your personal experiences, values, and beliefs are all integral aspects of who you are. They influence how you interact with children, their families, and other practitioners in the field. Let’s take a closer look at how identity affects professional practice for those working in the early years sector.
Personal Experiences
Your own personal experiences can have a huge impact on your approach as an early years practitioner. For example, if you had a positive experience with a teacher or mentor when you were younger, chances are you will strive to provide similar support for the children in your care. Likewise, if you had negative experiences as a child—such as being bullied or left out—you may be more sensitive to signs of marginalization or exclusion among the kids you work with and make sure they know they are accepted and respected within their learning environment.
Values and Beliefs
Your values and beliefs shape how you interact with both adults and children in your care. This can include what language is used around young learners; whether disciplinary techniques such as timeout are used; or even something like what type of snacks are provided during snack time. When it comes to professional practice within the early years sector, having an awareness of one’s personal values and beliefs is essential so that one can ensure that their practice aligns with their values while still providing equitable care for all learners involved.
Summary
In conclusion, understanding how personal experiences, values, and beliefs impact professional practice in the early years sector is vital for all practitioners that work directly with young learners. Having an awareness of these elements allows professionals to ensure that their approach is reflective of their own identities while also providing equitable care for all learners involved. By considering our own identity when we enter into our professional practices, we create nurturing learning environments where young people feel safe and secure to explore new ideas without fear of judgement or exclusion.