Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 4.1: Engage in professional development
Learning outcome: Be able to use reflective practice to contribute to own professional development
Assessment criteria: Analyse own professional development needs in relation to the role of the Early Years practitioner
As an Early Years practitioner, it is important to continuously reflect on and analyse your professional development needs in relation to your role in supporting children’s learning and development. This will ensure that you can provide the best possible care and education for the children in your setting.
One way to do this is to be aware of the standards that all Early Years practitioners must meet to be deemed competent in their role. You could collate this information from your job description, the EYFS or the Institute for Apprenticeships. Then, compare your own practice to that which is expected.
Another method is to reflect on your own practice and identify areas in which you feel you need further development. For example, you may have been in a situation where a parent/carer wished to make a formal complaint, but you were unsure about the process. You decide to become more familiar with your organisation’s Complaints Policy and Procedure so that you know exactly what to do if a similar situation arises in the future.
Another way to analyse your professional development needs is through discussion with your supervisor during formal supervision or appraisal. During these meetings, you will receive feedback about your practice and have the opportunity to raise any concerns that you have or ask for support. For example, you might feel that you struggle to work with children that have additional needs and request more training in this area of your practice.